Premier Andrew Furey of Newfoundland and Labrador arrived in Channel-Port aux Basques early Thursday afternoon, arriving via helicopter because of roads being washed away by the storm that has covered the province’s southwestern region.
Premier Andrew Furey visited Channel-Port aux Basques to survey the damage caused by a significant storm that left record rain totals and devastation in its path.
Furey arrived shortly after 1:30 p.m. NT on Thursday, accompanied by Transportation Minister Elvis Loveless, due to highways in and out of the village being flooded out by rain.
Picking up a medical patient who needed to be transferred to the hospital for non-emergency care was also part of the journey. According to Furey, helicopter services are now being used for emergency circumstances, and there is no timetable for road repairs.
According to Environment Canada meteorologist Rodney Barney, the city of Channel-Port aux Basques has received just over 165 mm of rain since Tuesday, establishing records for the most significant 24-hour rainfall total and highest two-day rainfall amount. Rainfall totals in the northern Codroy Valley were much higher: 195.6 mm.
“The water levels are down compared to what I was expecting, compared to some of the footage that we’ve seen. So that’s a good sign,” Furey explained. “When you see it in person, some of the damage is a little worse.”
Due to the storm and road washouts, Furey told CBC News on Wednesday that roughly 5,000 people are presently cut off from the rest of the province.
Source: CBC News
