Homes that stood for more than 80 years in Port aux Basques were destroyed in a matter of hours by the surge of post-tropical storm Fiona. (Ashley Brauweiler/CBC)
Post-tropical storm Fiona isn’t over yet – it’s moving away from the island and heading towards Labrador before tapering off later Sunday.
Environment Canada meteorologist Melissa Field said the south coast of Labrador saw wind gusts of up to 90 km/h overnight Saturday and about 10 millimeters of rain.
“They won’t see the same kind of impact as the insular part of the province,” he said in an interview on CBC Radio’s Weekend AM.
The area could receive between 10 and 20 millimeters of rain on Sunday, but winds should drop throughout the day.
The Salvation Army has coordinated an emergency shelter for people displaced from their homes in the Port aux Basques area at the regional secondary school of St. James, located at 200 Hardys Arterial Road. People with pets who have been displaced can go to the Bruce II Sports Center.
Steven Hynes, director of disaster emergency services for the Salvation Army, said people in the community are still coming to terms with the disaster.
“The plan right now is to take it as it comes,” he said.
He said the Salvation Army will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at the shelter, which is doubling as a warming center.
Port aux Basques was still in a state of emergency on Sunday. (Malone Mullin/CBC)
The communities of Port aux Basques and Burnt Islands are still under a state of emergency and residents should stay there. In addition to the homes that have been lost, power lines are down and debris is strewn around the area.
Port aux Basques city manager Leon MacIsaac said city hall staff will leave on Sunday to assess the damage.
“We have some destruction,” he said.
MacIsaac said the city has set up concrete barriers to keep people out of danger areas and that all residents should stay home except in an emergency.
“Having coffee in the morning is not essential,” he said.
A spokesman for the provincial Department of Transportation said there is no significant damage to provincial roads, but Route 408, the road to Cape Ray, remains closed while crews clear debris and assess the damage.
The Marine Atlantic ferry service has resumed normal operations. Meanwhile, some provincial ferry services remain unavailable as the storm moves across the province.
More than 2,600 Newfoundland Power customers in southwest 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 the damage and working to remove trees from power lines.
Furey will be in Port aux Basques on Monday
Prime Minister Andrew Furey, who was in Gallipoli, Turkey on Friday to attend the dedication ceremony for the final Trail of the Caribou monument, said he will be in Port aux Basques on Monday.
“We will focus on the recovery of the area. I want to assure all the people who live in the area that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador will be there to support them,” he said.
Furey said he has had discussions with Port aux Basques MHA Andrew Parsons and Port aux Basques Mayor Brian Button about how the provincial government can help people who have been affected by the storm.
He said the provincial government will assist residents who have been displaced and assist communities with cleanup and reconstruction.
Furey said a damage inventory is being taken and has spoken with the federal government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
He said the provincial government will assess its preparations and response to the storm. Public Safety Minister John Hogan and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Elvis Loveless will hold a media conference at 2pm NT.
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