Storm Fiona: Schools closed, some asked not to visit ERs as clean-up continues – Halifax | Canadian

As the clean-up from post-tropical storm Fiona’s damage continues in Nova Scotia, some cancellations and closures are stretching into the week.

The damaging storm barreled through Atlantic Canada Friday night into Saturday, causing widespread power outages and unsafe conditions.

Public school classes are cancelled Monday for schools in:

• Halifax Regional Centre for Education
• Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education
• Strait Regional Centre for Education
• Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education
• Conseil scolaire acadien provincial schools (CSAP) in its northern and metro groups

The province said the cancellations are due to power outage and unsafe road conditions, and was the result of a recommendation from the provincial Emergency Management Office.

Officials will be checking all schools to make sure that buildings and properties are safe before students and staff return.

School staff in Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education, South Shore Regional Centre for Education, Tri-County Regional Centre for Education and CSAP schools in its south group will reach out to families later Sunday about cancellations at individual schools.

Those who can wait asked not to go to ERs

Meanwhile, Nova Scotia Health is asking anyone who can “wait” to refrain from visiting the province’s emergency departments.

Trending Stories

• Canadian military faces shortage of recruits: `We are in an applicant crisis’

• Fiona, a record-setting storm, leaves path of destruction in eastern Canada

“Our emergency departments around the province are busy,” NSH said in a news release.

They add that anyone who is registered with the Need a Family Practice registry, which is for people without a family doctor, can use VirtualCareNS.

“We understand that power and network issues are affecting many in the province,” the release noted.

People who are on home oxygen and those who need power for medical devices are asked to go to Comfort Centres, and not the ER, in the event of a power outage.

Comfort Centres in the Halifax area on Sunday include:

• Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre, 1583 Beaver Bank Road, Beaver Bank (now to 7 p.m.)
• Royal Canadian Legion Branch #58, 23566 Nova Scotia Trunk 7, Sheet Harbour (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Prospect Road Community Centre, 2141 Prospect Road, Hatchet Lake (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Cole Harbour Place, 51 Forest Hill Parkway, Cole Harbour (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
• Lebrun Recreation Centre, 36 Holland Avenue, Bedford (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

Nova Scotia Health said decisions will be made later Sunday on the ability to go ahead with scheduled outpatient care and services.

“Please do not attend scheduled appointments for care if it is unsafe for you to travel,” the release read.

Anyone with urgent medical needs should call 911. General health advice is available 24/7 from registered nurses at 811.