Post-Tropical Storm Fiona is not over yet – it is moving away from the island and heading towards Labrador before easing later on Sunday.
Environment Canada meteorologist Melissa Field said the south coast of Labrador experienced wind gusts of up to 90 km/h on Saturday night and about 10 millimeters of rain.
“They won’t see quite the same kind of impact as the island part of the province,” she said in an interview with CBC Radio. AM weekend.
The area could receive 10 to 20 millimeters of rain on Sunday, but winds are expected to ease throughout the day.
The Salvation Army coordinated emergency shelter for those displaced from their homes in the Port aux Basques area at St. James Regional High School, located at 200 Hardys Arterial Road. People with pets that have been moved can go to the Bruce II Sports Center.
Steven Hynes, director of disaster relief services for the Salvation Army, said people in the community were still accepting of the disaster.
“The plan at the moment is to take it as it comes,” he said.
He said the Salvation Army will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at the shelter, which also serves as a warm-up centre.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Anglophone School District announced on Sunday that four schools would be closed on Monday due to the storm. They include St. James Elementary and St. James Regional High in Port aux Basques, as well as LeGallais Memorial in Isle aux Morts and Grandy’s River Collegiate in Burnt Islands.
Port aux Basques and Burnt Islands remain under a state of emergency, with authorities urging residents to stay indoors.
The provincial government announced that Western Health has set up a toll-free number for affected residents to contact and get the support they may need, including mental health support and other health needs. The Western Health Fiona Response Line can be reached at 1-833-920-0096 and is available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Province formally requests federal assistance
On Sunday morning, the RCMP confirmed reports of a missing 73-year-old woman, noting that search efforts were underway.
At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Justice and Public Safety Minister John Hogan and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Elvis Loveless announced that the search had become a recovery mission, efforts continuing when conditions permit.
“Any time there’s a potential loss of life, it certainly serves as a reminder of the reality of what’s going on here,” Loveless said.
Hogan announced that he had sent a letter to federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair formally requesting federal resources.
“I spoke to him several times over the past two days, even before the storm hit,” Hogan said.
“He was aware that in all likelihood we were going to need help from the feds, so we’ll be working out the details of what that looks like over the next two days.”
In addition to homes that have been lost, power lines are down and debris is strewn across the area.
Port aux Basques City Manager Leon MacIsaac said city staff were visiting to assess the damage.
“We have quite a bit of destruction,” he said.
MacIsaac said the city has put up concrete barriers to keep people out of dangerous areas and all residents should stay home except in an emergency.
“Getting coffee in the morning is not essential,” he said.
A spokesperson for the provincial Department of Transportation said there was no significant damage to provincial highways, but Route 408, Cape Ray Road, remains closed while crews clean up debris and assess the damage.
Marine Atlantic’s ferry service has resumed regular operations. Meanwhile, some provincial ferry services remain unavailable as the storm moves through the province.
More than 2,600 Newfoundland Power customers in southwestern Newfoundland, along the west coast and on the Burin Peninsula are currently without power.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Newfoundland Power said crews are assessing damage and working to remove trees from power lines.
Furey will be in Port aux Basques on Monday
Premier Andrew Furey, who was in Gallipoli, Turkey, on Friday to attend the dedication ceremony for the last Caribou Trail monument, said he would be in Port aux Basques on Monday.
“We will focus on the recovery of the region. I want to assure everyone in the area that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will be there to support them,” he said.
Furey said he had discussions with Port aux Basques area MP Andrew Parsons and Port aux Basques Mayor Brian Button about how the provincial government can help those affected by the storm.
He said the provincial government will help residents who have been displaced and help communities clean up and rebuild.
Furey said an inventory of damage was being done and he had spoken with the federal government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
He said the provincial government would assess its preparations for and response to the storm. Public Safety Minister John Hogan and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Elvis Loveless are scheduled to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. NT.
