Public Service Announcement
Residents Encouraged to Plan Accordingly for Approaching Winter Storm
Tuesday, March 25, 2014 (Halifax, NS) – The Halifax Regional Municipality is encouraging all residents to heed weather warnings and plan their travel accordingly for the next 24 to 36 hours.
Environment Canada has issued a blizzard warning and storm surge warning for the Halifax region on Wednesday, March 26, with snow expected to begin falling in the overnight hours. Forecasts are calling for as much as 40 centimetres of snow, followed by rain, and winds gusting to 100 km/h. These conditions will severely impact visibility on the roads.
HRM is encouraging residents to keep a close eye on the weather and road conditions throughout the day, and to consider whether they need to travel at all. Also, given the forecasted storm surge, residents are advised to stay clear of the shoreline and to avoid low-lying areas prone to flooding. Disregarding such warnings can pose a risk to the public and the first responders who would be called in to a rescue situation.
If conditions warrant, HRM offices and customer service centres may close, and HRM recreation programs could be cancelled. Residents should call ahead to confirm before heading out. In the event of such closures, HRM will issue a Public Service Announcement and provide updates via @hfxgov on Twitter and online at http://www.halifax.ca/mediaroom/pressrelease/releases.html.
Municipal operations, particularly snow and ice clearing, will remain an ongoing priority and Metro Transit will continue running, adjusting service and routing based on weather and road conditions. Residents will continue to have access to HRM’s 311 telephone service.
HRM’s Municipal Operations has its snow and ice clearing crews on standby. Staff will continue to monitor weather forecasts and conditions into the evening and overnight, and will be dispatching resources as required to clear the streets and sidewalks. Given the extent of the storm, it is anticipated that crews may be challenged to meet service standards and ask that residents please be patient.
Metro Transit staff will be assessing the weather and the impact on service starting early tomorrow morning. Updates on individual bus routes will be available by following @hfxtransit on Twitter or online at www.halifax.ca/metrotransit. If there are impacts on all Metro Transit service, the public will be alerted through Public Service Announcements, on Twitter via @hfxtransit and @hfxgov, and on Metro Transit’s website.
Curbside collection of garbage, organics, and recyclables is cancelled for tomorrow, March 26, and is re-scheduled for this Saturday, March 29. The following facilities will be closed tomorrow due to the forecasted weather:
• The Otter Lake Waste Processing & Disposal Facilities at 600 Otter Lake Dr.
• The Materials Recycling Facility at 20 Horseshoe Lake Dr.
• The Composting Facilities at 80 Gloria McCluskey Ave. in Burnside and 61 Evergreen Place in Goodwood
These solid waste facilities will be open regular (weekday) operating hours on Saturday, March 29. Residents are reminded to place their waste materials curbside the evening prior to collection day or by 7 a.m. on collection day to ensure services as collection times may vary. For more information, visit www.halifax.ca/recycle.
HRM’s Traffic Authority will not be enforcing the overnight winter parking ban on Wednesday, March 26. Based on weather conditions, staff will decide tomorrow morning whether the ban will be enforced overnight on Thursday, March 27.
For more information about HRM’s snow clearing operations please visit www.halifax.ca/snow.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Stairs
HRM Communications
902-476-5975
stewarj@halifax.ca
