The public is advised to stay home and shelter in place as all roads remain closed throughout Prince Edward County.
“Even if you think you can get through the snow, you will get stuck and only slow down snow removal operations,” Mayor Steve Ferguson says. “I urge you: stay home and stay safe.”
The Emergency Control Group met at 7 am on Saturday, December 24 to review the current situation and receive an update from roads staff:
Snow plows worked through the night to help emergency vehicles to travel to calls.
Plowing remains slow due to massive snow drifts higher than the plow in some areas. The County is using larger equipment to remove drifts and allow plows to pass.
County staff have developed a plan of attack for Saturday, December 24:
Plows will work to clear all roads as soon as possible with a priority on the main road arteries of County Road 49, County Road 1, County Road 2, and Highway 33.
Staff will plow routes into Consecon, Waupoos, and West Lake in order to support Hydro One’s efforts to restore power in those areas.
The arenas in Wellington and Picton are closed on Saturday, December 24.
If you are stranded along the roadside, call the OPP’s non-emergency phone line at 1.888.310.1122. The OPP has specialized equipment it can use to assist stranded motorists. Please be advised that the OPP are experiencing a high volume of calls at this time and you may have to wait to speak with an operator.
Dial 911 in an emergency when you need immediate help from police, fire or ambulance services. An emergency situation can include medical emergencies such as someone experiencing chest pain or difficulty breathing or a fire that is not contained or controlled.
Visit the Hydro One website for power outage updates or to report an outage. You can also report an outage by calling 1.800.434.1235.
Environment Canada is calling for blizzard conditions to continue throughout the day on Saturday, December 24. Local amount 10 to 20 cm. Wind southwest 70 km/h gusting to 100 km/h, diminishing to 50 km/h gusting to 80 km/h late this afternoon. High minus 4. Wind chill minus 21C this morning and minus 14C this afternoon.
The Emergency Control Group will meet again at 3 pm on Saturday, December 24 to assess the situation. To get updates from the County, sign up to receive email notices and follow the County on Facebook and Twitter.
