The Town of Fort Erie has lifted its state of emergency, as most of the 15,000 customers have had their power restored following the devastating blizzard before Christmas. Town officials are still asking tourists to stay away as they continue to clean up after the massive storm.
READ MORE: Storm brings widespread traffic chaos and wind damage across Niagara region
Kristine Carmichael of Canadian Niagara Power says, “it was very debilitating, like something that most of us have ever seen before. The roads were completely impassible, the blizzard-like conditions, wind speeds of 120kms an hour along the shoreline of Lake Erie.”
At the height of the storm, more than 15,000 homes in Fort Erie were without electricity. Canadian Niagara Power hopes to have every home restored by Thursday night.
READ MORE: Fort Erie residents were hit hard by last week’s winter storm
Fred and Eva Broughton are still without power. They have managed since Dec. 22 with a small generator and a wood-burning fireplace, but they say it’s been a challenge.
The warming centres set up at the Vale Centre in Port Colborne and the Fort Erie Leisureplex are now closed. Along with the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society warming vehicles for animals, dozens of people and pets stayed at the centres over Christmas.
The pet-warming vehicles will be on standby, as the region now deals with the threat of flooding.
