Christine Whelan FEO, January 19, 2023, VOL. 4 ISSUE 11
On Saturday, December 24 at 8:30 am, the Town of Fort Erie declared a State of Emergency on Facebook.
There had been significant power outages across Fort Erie. In some cases, emergency first responders like police, fire, and EMS were physically unable to respond to calls. Hazards on the roadways included downed trees and powerlines, drifting snow, flooding, and abandoned vehicles.”
A “bomb cyclone” with hurricane-level winds, with a powerful flash freeze creating ice and heavy snowfalls paralyzed Fort Erie just in time for Christmas.
This would be a Christmas no Greater Fort Erian would forget.
Residents took to social media, turned to their neighbours, and to themselves, learning a little more about themselves, what they were made of, and how they could cope. And many discovered just what an amazing community they live in.
Morning of December 23: And So It Began…
At 8:00 am on December 23, Kenney Jessop began sharing his experience of the storm rolling in off the lake, down by the Palmwood Condos on Facebook. “I’ve been here 11 years and never heard a forecast like this one.”
By 9:30 am, Waterfront Park was flooded.
“Just lost power,” was Kenney’s status update at 5:44 pm.
December 24 at 3:30 am, Kenney was in trouble. “Storm worse than ever. The car won’t start. Can see my breath. Poor cell service. Need help.” He and his dog Kasey needed to get someplace warm.
Other people commented, they tried to help and almost got stranded. After a while, another post was shared, “No worries, Kenny and Kasey are safe.”
And so, this continued…
Posts started coming out, on Facebook, everywhere, asking questions and needing information. Residents were told then, it would be days. There were many trees and wires down. A map of the outages was posted on the CNP site.
Christmas Eve day began with the declaration of a State of Emergency. The Niagara Region has an Emergencies Operations Team. Staff from the 12 municipalities and the region were cooperating to address the numerous challenges.
Social Media: Communications Central
A temporary Facebook Group, Fort Erie Storm Reports, was created to help residents of the Fort Erie area stay informed and connected during the blizzard. Several existing local Facebook Groups were utilized.
Posts could be seen on these groups such as “Please post below if you or someone you know is in need. Let us know your need(s) and location.” There were 131 comments in response to that one post.
Individuals and groups of individuals with 4×4 trucks, shovels, and straps were ready and willing to assist. Rescuers themselves were getting stuck.
On December 24 at 10:35 am, Rob Mac posted on the Crystal Beach Facebook group, “Just spoke with the Town. Road clearing crews are, at this point, not able to be on the roads but monitoring closely for opportunities (no visibility). I asked about the potential for warming shelters but they are wanting everyone to stay in place at this point. If this stays prolonged, that will be an option but hoping not to get to that situation. Stay safe and warm everyone!” He added that they need to coordinate with CNP to get them to the places that need to be repaired.
A post from the Town followed, “We are appealing to everyone to stay home and stay safe today. Weather conditions remain blizzard-like.”
Another post from the Town was shared, “If you are at home without power, please do what you can to conserve heat or call upon your neighbour for help.”
So many were posting concerns about their parents and grandparents, in town and in the rural areas, without hydro and heat, their phones down, not knowing how to get to them — helpless — and at this point, it could still be two more days, they were told.
For some, not knowing was horrifyingly painful.
Call For Help
A post came out from the Town. “TOFE Winter Storm Call For Help – Anyone with a snowmobile that is able to assist the Fort Erie Fire Department with emergency response to stranded persons/vehicles is asked to call Kelly Walsh, Director of Engineering for instructions.”
Not long after, the post was updated. “Thank you to all the volunteers! We have all that we need. What an amazing response from our community.”
Posts and responding comments filled the local profiles and groups on social media. Countless stories, within stories, within the story as a whole.
And then…
Around 7:30 pm, according to a post from Stevensville, then following comments, everything just got really quiet. The snow started tapering off. Someone asked, “Could this be the end of this?”
But the crisis was not over. It was brutally cold outside. Most people were snowed in. According to Mayor Redekop, there were 11,000 households in Fort Erie, which is approximately three-quarters of the households in town, without power at various times.
Residents began reminding other residents who still were able to access social media to charge up their cell phones from their vehicles, at least to get the word out to loved ones that they were ok. Other posts were reminders to clear out their vents before going to bed.
A Town post was updated. “We are working to provide Warming Centres as soon as it is safe to do so. Please, be prepared for at least one more night remaining at home.
Christmas Day
Gary Pooler’s post made me giggle and reminded me of the old TV show, Green Acres. “Made D**N sure that Christmas tree was lit up on Christmas morning — had to unplug the toaster, though.”
Life-long residents of the Fort Erie area have learned that humour is essential through moments of Mother Nature’s mayhem.
The Warming Centre, or Warming Station as it was also called, was opened at the Leisureplex. There was hot food, games for kids, cots for a nap, and an opportunity to charge phones and get warm. The station was free and open overnight.
Niagara Limousine closed down the regular Fort Erie On-Demand Transit service and focused on providing free transportation for welfare checks and a shuttle service to the Leisureplex.
A question was asked around 4:00 pm on Christmas Day, “Just curious, what are the temperatures in the homes without power since Friday? And what is everyone doing to keep warm?
The temperature responses ranged from 13 to -4C.
They were staying warm by cuddling with their dogs and cats, bundling in layers of clothes and several blankets. They sat in their vehicles just long enough to warm up while charging their phones. There were comments about being afraid to run out of gas. They used burners on the stove. There was a gas fireplace without a fan. They lit large candles and boiled water. They sectioned off rooms and even pitched tents in the living room.
Donna Gerber posted a photo of a tent in her living room. “For those without heat, we are staying warm with the dogs in the tent in the living room. Stay safe!” Donna says their dogs, Gracie and Leonard, get more of the credit.
Rick Doan of Ridgeway posted a photo he took while he and his wife were sitting in their vehicle on Christmas Eve to keep warm. Two other neighbours, he said, were doing the same. “We always keep our gas tanks filled and in the car during the winter. We’re glad we did.”
On December 26, after three days of blizzard, Greg Asselstine lifted the hood of his vehicle that had been sitting in the parking lot. Snow had packed into every crevice in and around everything under the hood. His battery was dead. He posted photos on social media and others responded. Their vehicle looked the same under the hood. Another couldn’t get her hood open.
December 27
Backroad Barbecue Company from Port Colborne was “happy to prepare dinner on the evening of December 27th for over 90 CNP workers who have been working tirelessly to make the holidays happen.”
“Hydro Linesmen are the new astronauts.” ~ Gary Pooler
Julie and Nick Brady of Regional Limousine shared their gratitude on social media. “Our staff was truly amazing this weekend. All the limo work was canceled due to the weather, yet they still showed up in snow boots to dig out cars, drive people to warming stations and urgent care, do wellness checks for families who did not hear from loved ones, and clear drifted snow from driveways and doors. Whatever we asked, their answer was yes, even though it meant stepping away from their families at Christmas. We are so grateful to have such an incredible team in place!
Beautiful words, posted by a moderator on Fort Erie – “Our Town” during the storm, are perfect words to wrap this piece up. “We cannot thank everyone enough for all they have done and are doing for our community, risking their own safety and time away from their loved ones. And to all the members of this town who have stepped up to help in any way they could — right from keeping us informed, to shoveling neighbours out of their homes and vehicles, snowmobiling the stranded home, and so much more.
“This may not have been the ideal Christmas season we hoped for, but when we stop to look at how this community has risen to the occasion and lifted each other during this unfortunate situation, I can’t help but think in some way, this needed to happen to reunite people in love, giving selflessness, and unity after all the division over the past couple years. This is what Fort Erie is. This is who WE are. I have never been prouder of our town. This season will likely be one we will remember. I’ll remember it as one of appreciation and admiration for all.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” ~ Fred Rogers
Photo provided by Greg Asselstine
