Port aux Basques Feeling Full Force of Fiona

It’s a dire situation in the Port aux Basques area where a storm, the likes of which has never been seen in the region, is swallowing up parts of town.

Houses and infrastructure are being washed out to sea, and it looks like the water system has been compromised. A state of emergency is in effect and many residents are under a mandatory evacuation order.

Mayor Brian Button says the devastation is widespread, and he’s urging people to stay home so that first responders and municipal staff can do their work and get people out from the lower part of downtown.

He says the tidal surges are coming in but people are still going down to the coastline to have a look and get pictures and getting in the way of the evacuation procedure.

Some people under a mandatory order are refusing to leave but the mayor says if they find themselves in trouble, first responders may not be able to get to them.

The two emergency centres are large but they could use some help from people in the area.

They have the Bruce Arena which they could use if necessary. The hotels are full, so Mayor Button is asking residents who are able to take someone in for the next while or 24 hours or so.

The town hall is among the properties flooded, so the town is setting up an alternate command centre.

Meanwhile, destruction is widespread along the southwest coast stretching from Burgeo to Margaree. One person described the situation in Margaree as “total destruction.”