MEDIA ADVISORY
Hurricane Juan- Recovery Update
(Friday, October 3, 2003- 6: 30 pm)--The following is a list of topics that were discussed at the media update this afternoon at City Hall on Day # 5 of the recovery and clean-up in the aftermath of Hurricane Juan.
HRM Call Center- Due to a significant drop in the volume of calls now being received after the hurricane, the HRM Call Center hours have been decreased from 24 hrs. a day to18 hrs. a day, open from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight.
Solid Waste Collection- The regularly scheduled Monday and Wednesday garbage & recycling collection which was canceled due to the hurricane will now occur on Saturday, October 4th. Communities included in these collection areas are: South End & West End Halifax; Forest Hills; Beaver Bank; Eastern Passage; and Dutch Settlement .
The regularly scheduled Monday Green Cart collection which was canceled this past week will also now occur on Saturday, October 4th. The communities included in these green cart collection areas include: Woodlawn, Porter's Lake, Hammonds Plains and St. Margaret's Bay. They will now receive their green cart collection on Saturday, October 4th. Materials should be curbside for collection by 7 a.m. on Saturday.
The HRM Household Hazardous Waste Depot will be closed on Saturday, October 4th, re-opening on Saturday, October 11th.
Residents may also drop off de-packaged organic food waste at the Miller Lake Composting Facility in Burnside on McCluskey Ave, and the New Era Plant off Herring Cove Rd, Saturday, October 4th between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Public drop-off of garbage is also accepted at Otter Lake on Saturdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Regular fees apply ($5 under 220 lbs)
Fallen Trees, Storm debris collection - Work crews have made great progress and continue to work round the clock.. Have worked with NSPI crews to re-open major routes and also are beginning to be able to concentrate resources to residential houses where trees have been entangled in power lines. The majority of this work is expected to be completed by Sunday afternoon. Will also be working with Fire Chiefs throughout the region to confirm that are still no other major road blockages, to identify areas where power problems have still not been reported and assess the status of outlying areas of HRM.
HRM crews will not presently cut up wood removed from Point Pleasant Park and Public Gardens but preserve it for possible interpretative center treatment at a later date, due to the significant role and historical impact both of these parks have had on our city.
Also, all HRM Sports Fields will be closed at least until next Wednesday, October 8th. This is due to the fact all personnel are otherwise occupied loading or removing debris.
Traffic Congestion- Halifax Regional Police and RCMP are still urging as many motorists as possible to remain off the streets or to carpool or take public transit or find other alternatives to ease traffic congestion due to some traffic signals still not operating. Traffic Signals at Quinpool/Connaught; Quinpool/Oxford; and Windmill and Albro Lake Rd., still a few of the major intersections still not operational.
Public Mischief- The number of reports of incidents of public mischief and nuisance complaints are still fairly high, particularly with regards to youths loitering around schools and drinking in public. Halifax Regional Police and RCMP are still asking for parents' continued support in keeping their youths off the streets and out of mischief. Both extra Police and RCMP staff have been assigned to be on duty over the weekend.
Fire Services - Two residential fires were reported yesterday, one in Spryfield and one in Eastern Passage. The cause of both these fires was attributed to burning candles.There were no major injuries. The public is urged to be extremely careful when using alternative sources of light. Fire also requests residents ensure they have battery operated fire alarms rather than electrical.An updated list of Fire departments supplying water to those who do not have well access are as follows: 245 Herring Cove Rd., 45 Knightsridge Dr., Halifax;1 Metropolitan Blvd., Lr. Sackville; 1156 Sackville Dr., Lr. Sackville; 1807 Caldwell Rd., Eastern Passage; 690 Main St, Westphal; 2931 Lawrencetown Rd., Lawrencetown; 3035 # 7 Hwy, Lake Echo; 5543 Hwy # 7 Head Chezzetcook; 32 Riverside Ave., Musquodoboit Hbr; 51 Old Trunk Rd.,Oyster Pond; 2433 Lake Thomas Drive, Waverley; 2101 Prospect Rd., Hatchet Lake; 3610 Prospect Rd.,Shad Bay; 8579 St Margaret's Bay Rd., Black Point; 26 Myra Rd., Timberlea; 4408 St. Margaret's Bay Rd., Lewis Lake; 57 Ketch Harbour Rd., Herring Cove; 964 Ketch Harbour Rd., Ketch Harbour; 1070 Old Sambro Rd, Harrietsfield and Sambro Elementary School. Residents are reminded this water is not for the purpose of drinking water.
School Board- All schools will re-open in HRM on Monday, October 6th with the exception of those severely damaged by the hurricane. The In-Service Day which was scheduled for some schools has been cancelled.. For further specific details, please check the Halifax Regional School Board Web site at www.hrsp.ns.ca or call the School Board Information Line at 464-2000. It will be continuously updated over the weekend..
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Contact: Lori Patterson
Acting Corporate Communications Officer
Tel: (902) 490-6531
(902) 476-5975
Fax: (902)490-4044
E-mail:patterl@region.halifax.ns.ca
