News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Residents are asked to continue to heed the advice of local officials as the storm cleanup continues.

Environment and Climate Change Canada reports that as much as 50 cm of snow fell in the northern half of the province while close to 100 mm of rain was reported in some parts of southern New Brunswick. Provincial, municipal and other crews are working to clear roads and restore services.

“We continue to ask for the public’s co-operation,” said New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) director Greg MacCallum. “Many people are out today clearing up the mess. Roads are not completely cleared.”

“The end of the storm is also a good opportunity for people to assess their level of preparedness for a major event,” he said.

As of Monday afternoon, some roads have reopened, but “travel not recommended” advisories are in place on a number of highways.

Department of Transportation and Infrastructure crews continue to work to clear roads. In some areas of the province it may take crews a couple of days to completely clean and clear some provincial highways. The department asks for continued patience and caution while traveling over the next 48 hours.

Motorists should consult the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s Twitter feed at @brunswick511 or 511.gnb.ca for the latest information about road conditions. Those who must travel are urged to slow down and take their time.

“We are pleased that so many people heard the warnings from officials and took action to prepare for the storm and avoided unnecessary travel,” said Premier Blaine Higgs. “I want to thank everyone, including first responders, plow operators, electrical crews, and members of EMO teams at the provincial, regional and local levels for their work preparing for, monitoring and responding to the storm. We appreciate the patience and understanding of New Brunswickers as recovery from this event continues throughout the province.”

Anyone who has an emergency should call 9-1-1. Anyone with a non-urgent issue can contact their local municipality, or the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization for advice.

Power outages peaked at 6,700 clients at about 10 p.m. Sunday night.

As of 2:30 p.m. today, fewer than 1,000 customers were without power. NB Power crews are working to restore power. For questions about power outages, consult the NB Power website or call 1-800-663-6272.

72-hour preparedness

New Brunswickers are reminded to have everything they need for at least 72 hours following a storm. This includes preparing an emergency kit for home and car; knowing what to do during power outages; and knowing how to stay safe during an emergency.

An emergency kit should include food, water, batteries, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, first-aid supplies, cash in small bills in case ATMs are unavailable due to a power outage, and any special items such as prescriptions, infant formula and equipment for people with disabilities.

An emergency preparedness guide is available online. To prepare for an outage, visit the NB Power website.

For further updates you may follow the Emergency Measures Organization on Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting the 24/7 emergency updates webpage. For storm-related social media messages, search #nbstorm.

Carbon monoxide safety measures

Snow accumulation may increase the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning related to fuel heating systems. Residents should ensure they have a working carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in their homes. This is the first line of defence against this colorless, odourless, tasteless gas formed by the incomplete burning of natural gas, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane or wood.

Never run a generator in your home, garage, or near a window or air intake outside of your house. Never use a barbecue, camping stove or propane heater inside your house or garage as these activities also create carbon monoxide.