CALGARY- While part of the Trans-Canada Highway has been reopened after dangerous conditions forced its closure on Monday, travel is still not advised and dozens of people remain stuck.
Steve and Valerie Fraser were just some of the hundreds of people stranded when the highway was shut down east of Calgary.
They left Medicine Hat around 2 p.m. on Monday, bound for Calgary, but hit a traffic jam caused by a bad crash. They spent the next 18 hours in their pickup truck, just east of Strathmore. Fortunately, they were prepared.
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“We had blankets, winter clothing, boots, hats, toques,” Valerie Fraser says. “But, we didn’t bring food so we were a wee bit hungry.”
They headed to an emergency shelter that was set up at the Strathmore Civic Centre, where 150 people registered on Monday. Many people still can’t leave, as their vehicles were damaged or had to be abandoned along the highway.
If you do have to drive, RCMP say it’s important to have a well-maintained vehicle, full tank of gas and an emergency kit. That kit should include a shovel, candles, matches, flashlight, booster cables and a blanket.
It’s also important to dress appropriately in the event you do become stuck.
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