Canada sends troops to help clear Fiona's devastation
The Hindu
Government officials across Eastern Canada were assessing the full scope of damage caused by the storm now that the fierce winds have subsided in most place
The Canadian military mobilised and officials on Sunday tried to assess the scope of devastation from former Hurricane Fiona, which swept away houses, stripped off roofs and knocked out power across the country’s Atlantic provinces.
After surging north from the Caribbean, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, heavy rains and huge waves.
Defense Minister Anita Anand said Canadian troops would help remove fallen trees throughout Eastern Canada, restore transportation links and do whatever else is required for as long as it takes. She didn’t specify how many troops would be deployed.
Fiona was blamed for at least five deaths in the Caribbean, but there was no confirmation of any fatalities or serious injuries in Canada. Police said a woman who might have been swept away was listed as missing in the hardest hit town of Channel-Port Aux Basques on the southern coast of Newfoundland.
Entire structures were washed into the sea as raging surf pounded Port Aux Basques.
“Thankfully the weather is a lot better on the outside this morning which will give us opportunities to have a look and assess the damage," Mayor Brian Button said on social media.
"This is not a one-day situation where we can all go back to normal. Unfortunately, this is going to take days, it could take weeks, it could take months in some cases."