Regional Emergency Measures Organization Pictou County has set up a hotline for people to call if they are experiencing a storm-related issue and need assistance as a result of last weekend’s snowstorm. The number is 902-485-3445.  You can also reach out to Pictou County REMO online at https://www.remopictoucounty.ca/contact-us  Those contacting the hotline will be asked to provide their name, contact information and address and the nature of their crisis. Pictou County REMO will share this information with other provincial agencies responding to the area, so that assistance can be provided as quickly as possible. The hotline is for NON-EMERGENCY issues only.  Situations that could fit the criteria for assistance include being unable to leave your home; requiring medications; road inaccessibility, and requiring water, food, and childcare items.  If you require an Emergency Response, you should call 9-1-1.

 

 

A senior official in Pictou County says the area has been overlooked by the government as the province cleans up from last weekend’s massive snowfall.

Warden Robert Parker said Thursday he was aware that many people in northeastern Nova Scotia remain trapped in their homes because of huge snowdrifts, not unlike the situation in Cape Breton, where 150-centimetres of snow has left much of the island paralyzed.

But he says Cape Breton typically gets more attention because it is a place with national recognition.

He adds the province delivered 10 snowmobiles to the county Wednesday, which are being used to reach vulnerable people who haven’t been able to leave their homes.

 

 

Premier Tim Houston says the province has been dealing with an unprecedented dump of snow and provincial plow crews have put in 60-thousand hours of operating time since last weekend.

Houston says once the job is done his government will assess its response to determine such things as whether there is enough of the right snow clearing equipment to meet the challenges posed by major storms.

Still, he defends the response given the unpredictability that was in the storm forecast.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Kim Masland said that 50 roads that remained blocked were expected to be made passable by the end of yesterday.

 

 

The Town of New Glasgow says it’s taking longer than expected as Public Works crews are carrying out overnight snow removal operations in the Downtown area. The overnight closure of Archimedes St. (George St. – Jury St.) will now be in effect until 10:00am today.  The parking ban is being enforced and all vehicles must be moved from the streets to allow Public Works crews to carry out snow removal operations.

 

 

The Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union says it believes more can be done to assist healthcare workers get back and forth from work during major weather events like the weekend snowstorm in Nova Scotia.  President Janet Hazelton says too many health workers are stranded at work without relief. She says that while facilities have emergency preparedness plans in place, they should be revisited to prevent future hardship.  Hazelton says too many nurses are ending up working 72-hour shifts during the storms.

 

 

Gasoline prices and diesel prices both decreased overnight in Nova Scotia.  Gasoline prices went down by 2.4 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline at 159.2 cents per litre locally.  Diesel prices dropped by 6.3 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for diesel at 193.4 cents per litre in the local area.

 

 

A sports note, the Pictou County Weeks Crushers were blanked 5-0 by the Summerside Western Capitals in Maritime Junior Hockey League action.