WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE
Maybe it’s time to hibernate: Hanes
After a nasty winter storm dumped 36 centimetres of snow on the Montreal region, snow-removal crews were back at work on Sunday night cleaning up the mess.
The city said it could take more than five days before all streets and sidewalks are cleared, because in some boroughs crews had not finished removing snow from the previous storm. It is the fourth snowremoval operation this winter.
City officials reminded citizens to stay far away from snow-removal trucks and other vehicles used in the operation, which will see snow removed from 4,100 kilometres of streets and 6,550 kilometres of sidewalks.
“In order for the snow-removal operation to be done safely, we are asking people to be careful around snow-removal vehicles,” said Jean François Parenteau, the executive committee member in charge of snow removal.
He also asked motorists to respect the No Parking signs, so fewer cars have to be towed away, which slows snow-removal operations.
You can keep track of snowremoval operations on the city’s website or mobile app.
The Montreal region received even more snow than expected on Saturday — 36 centimetres of snow at Trudeau airport — and travel was difficult over the weekend because of snowy and slippery roads. Visibility was reduced throughout Saturday morning, when snow fell at a rate of four to six centimetres an hour, according to meteorologist Julie Deshaies.
While Montreal-area residents were digging out cars and shovelling driveways over the weekend, residents in some parts of the province were forced from their homes after rivers began overflowing following heavy rain and a thaw at the end of last week. In Beauport, near Quebec City, about 42 millimetres of rain had fallen, causing the Montmorency River to overflow.
People near Sherbrooke, Quebec City and in Bécancour reported flooding in their basements and several people had to be rescued by firefighters using boats.
With the heavy snow fall across Quebec, the Montreal Children’s Hospital put out a warning reminding motorists to make sure their exhaust pipes are not blocked while they are clearing snow from their vehicles.
Blocked exhaust pipes can pull carbon monoxide back into the car, poisoning children who might be in the car while it’s idling.
Hospital officials noted no children have died of carbonmonoxide poisoning this season. Nonetheless, administrators want parents to be aware of their list of safety tips. First, never leave a child alone in an idling car. Remove the snow from your car prior to starting the engine and ensure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
Cars should not be left running inside garages even if the garage door is open.
Signs of carbon-monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. More serious exposure can result in fainting, convulsions, coma and even death.
For more information, go to the hospital’s website: thechildren.com.