WATCH ABOVE: Raw video of a Nova Scotia couple who went out during Wednesday’s snowstorm in Halifax to help free several cars stuck on the highway. (Video courtesy: Michelle Bland)
HALIFAX – As Halifax continues to dig out from a storm that dumped more than 50 centimetres of snow on the city Wednesday, stories of people generously helping strangers amid the chaos are emerging.
Global News viewer Michelle Bland was able to capture an extraordinary sight on video — she and her husband helping to dig out cars and trucks that were stuck on the highway.
The couple lives just outside Halifax in Lakeview and can see Highway 102 from their home. Bland, who’s 32, said she and her husband set out to shovel the snow on their property Wednesday morning when they noticed some vehicles that appeared to be stuck.
READ MORE: 5 things you need to know about the crazy amount of snow in Halifax
She said her husband used his CB radio to find out what was going on. Once they realized about half a dozen vehicles were stuck, they knew they wanted to help the stranded drivers.
Once they cleared away their own snow, which was waist-deep in some spots, they took their snowblower and drove up to where the cars and trucks were stopped.
“It was kind of an interesting day up on the highway,” she said Friday afternoon, laughing. Using the snowblower, which they had attached to a lawn tractor, her husband worked to clear a path while she helped shovel the snow that was packed underneath and around the vehicles.
She said the trouble started when one car went into a snowbank and another stopped in the road to help. A tractor trailer coming down the highway was forced to brake, and then couldn’t get up the snowy hill.
READ MORE: More Halifax residents picking up shovels and pitching in
As they worked to clear away the snow and free the vehicles, she took a walk down the highway to check on the drivers, who had been there since 6:30 a.m. She said eight of them wanted coffee, so she went to Tim Hortons and got some.
“They gave me money and told me to keep the change,” she said. “A lot of them were very grateful.”
Eventually, the snowblower broke down, but they had managed to clear enough snow so that everybody could be on their way.
Bland said two men from one of the trucks helped them out.
“They were very thankful for getting them out of there,” she said.
“At least the snow was light. It was packed in some spots, so it was harder to do…tough work digging around tires.”
As for her truck, which can be seen in the video hauling a tractor trailer, she said they weren’t worried it would be up to the task because it has “hauled a lot of heavy stuff.”
She added that they wouldn’t hesitate to do head out on the highway again if another storm creates a similar situation.
“We don’t mind helping when we can,” she said.
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