Emergency Response

We started to get closures on the 402 and they just kept happening.

Everyone did their best to try and keep it open but it was no longer feasible. To end the business day, the storm intensified and the closures became massive traffic backups and a massive line that can’t be cleared. Road Sergeant’s realized they were in trouble and the roads can’t be open. At the time, they did not have snow machines but instead all-terrain vehicles. The supplier who had the contract to clean the highways had pulled their trucks off of the road due to hazards. I made my to Forest OPP detachment and could hardly stand from the parking lot. The wind was so strong I could barely see my hand.

The worst hit area was Reece’s Corners right through to Strathroy. One of his first called was the Warwick fire chief and the snowmobile club. In he went and they got fire fighters in and snow machines. At that time, due to construction, the overpass leading into the village was a temporary access point which was handy for the fire department. I gave them the go ahead to run the 402 and check on people stranded. Shelter in place was enacted since it is safer in your vehicle then walking somewhere. Check tailpipes, gas, food, and water. The Fire Chief called and stated they were making sandwiches for stranded people.

I called Orillia Headquarters to let them know what is going on and mentioned that the Air Force in Trenton could help. They train for this type of event. We got the go ahead from HQ, who placed the call to Trenton, who dispatched a Hercules who flew over and dropped flares to see the extent of the situation. The military’s first step.

Farmers with snowplows trying to help clear out cars. I called to activate emergency plans for the emergency centers to get them activated for people. Lambton Shores and Hwy. 21 opened their emergency center as well. We made a call to the County to share what is happening and the extent of it. Steve Arnold and the County activated the emergency control group. Now they are rolling into early morning and they do a conference call by phone and in the meantime the military called and said they can’t see anything. Zero ceiling and flares are no good so they had to wait. We requested griffons, the rescue copters, and they said yes. The military continued to monitor and when visibility cleared and it was safe, they were going to send the griffons down. We were able to broadcast to CHOK and tell the stranded folks what to tune to so they can communicate back and forth.

There was a lot of behind the scenes. Knowing there were many people who needed to be towed, we redeployed one of the investigation units to be in charge of clearing out the cars with no one in them. They are good at analytics and were able to coordinate it effectively. Then they put an officer in the warming centers as a means for communications.

On the next day we get into cleanup and people were brought in by the griffons and every snow machine available, everyone checked cars and got rides to where the helicopters were landing and taking people into Wyoming. We broke the area into zones so that we could keep track of where everything was and what was done. Commands were based on zone. OPP went house to house on the snow machines and report with any issues or when it is done.

Tow trucks started removing vehicles so that cleanup could get done. Others through Middlesex started from that end and worked their way back. Couple days for cleanup. First was to make sure that everyone was ok, on both main and side roads.

All kinds of stories with people going to private homes. All of them were really good to say who they took in and where they came from. Coming together of emergency services, community, and willingness of leaders came together to do what needs to be done. Officers slept in the office since they too couldn’t get home. “Is there anything we can do to help”. What you end up with is an action plan, to-do list etc.

That is where the county leaders would come for updates. By the next day people started to slowly get around. Generally speaking most people stayed home. Our officers were the eyes and ears on the road and my job was to make sure everyone had the tools to succeed at their job.

For a lot of the municipalities, this was their first time potentially activating the response. Were they prepared and have the resources available. There wasn’t a lot of complaints. Everyone knew that help was on the way. Getting into the cell phone era where they could call for help. People were registered when they came in so they were able to access loved ones so they could slowly filter out.