REMEMBERING SNOWMAGEDDON in St. John's
One year ago, Jan 17 - 18 in 2020, St. John’s was dumped with over 90 cm of snow within a period of 72 hours. This huge snow storm which was then named “Snowmageddon” also brought hurricane force winds to the whole island with wind speed over 120 km.
After a heavy downpour of snow overnight with high winds that continued into the next day, not only our city crew, but the whole provincial snow ploughing team was just unable to keep up with the enormity of this storm of the Decades, if not the century. Our city of St. John’s finally declared the State of Emergency (SOE) to close down the city for safety reasons. The last time SOE declared was in 1984.
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Downtown St. John’s was in a total disarray during Snowmageddon for more than a week!!
With SOE in effect, the whole city was in lock down mode. Grocery and essential services were allowed to open during limited specific hours. No vehicles were allowed to be on the road to make room for snow clearing and emergency vehicles. There was sporadic power loss in some areas and even a few small fires broke out. An avalanche did happen over the Outer Battery area in St. John’s with the record heavy snow fall and pounding hurricane gale force wind. Fortunately, there was no injury during the whole Snowmageddon event. The State of Emergency in St. John’s lasted for 8 days in total. The army was also called in to help our city and any citizen who were physically challenged or needed extra help to dig out their walkways and doorways.
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During Snowmageddon, it was so surreal walking downtown Water Street, St. John’s, with NO TRAFFIC. We saw a long line up of people on Duckworth Street, just to get basic necessities at a convenient store which was open when all supermarkets were still closed. We met people wearing skis, families in snow shoes, dogs and children in their winter sliding sledges parading downtown when the snow stopped. Never saw so many walking downtown freely without the need to look out for cars! (That was before the Pedestrian Mall). We even saw a few in snow pants testing out their snowboards in one of the slopes leading to downtown. Neighbours were helping each other shoveling out. Strangers were making friends along the way, chatting and digging out each others’ cars and driveway. Fire trucks and power trucks were parked in the middle of the street where they could do their jobs best.
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Downtown George Street, like any others in town was impassable. Days after Snowmageddon, the owners were still working hard to clear their storefronts and fire exits. All you could see on George Street for days were bars and restaurants establishments buried or blocked with snow. Businesses were closed more than a week.
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Not just an avalanche that came down and destroyed a home in the Outer Battery, the raging waves and ocean also took down a boat in the Quidi Vidi Gut as well. A boat sank overnight and only the mast and part of the ship were visible the next day. So much snow had fallen during Snowmageddon, the City of St. John’s has to update their bylaws to allow the ploughed snow be dumped into the harbour, streamlining the snow removal operation.
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Snowmageddon brought out the best in people. Neighbours were helping out neighbours. People were making new friends with strangers. Citizens were praising up the armed forces and all essential workers for their time and dedications. I saw Nurses walking home after work on snow shoes. Armed Forces were digging out to help locals in the neighbourhood. Citizens were booking places helping out local restaurants after snowmageddon. Snowmageddon has prepared us well for the pandemic to come. Newfoundland and Labradorians are always resilient to unforeseenable circmstances and it was by no co-incidence that we stood up to handle Covid-19 pandemic so well. Bravo, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
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Thank you to our Armed Forces for their assistance and time. You were there when we needed you! THANK YOU!