Halifax urges evacuation for some areas, halts ferry, bus service ahead of hurricane Teddy

The Halifax Regional Municipality has begun to shutter its services ahead of hurricane Teddy’s arrival.

The municipality has urged residents living in low-lying and high-risk areas of Sambro, Peggys Cove and the Eastern Shore to make plans to immediately self-evacuate. At this time it is a voluntary self-evacuation.

“Citizens are encouraged to be in alternative locations prior to the arrival of the storm,” a statement from the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) reads.

“Please contact the Emergency Operations Center at 902-490-3211 to self-register if you plan to self-evacuate for safety reasons.”

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Residents who are planning to self-evacuate are asked to contact 311 to self-register by 8 p.m., in order to provide time for staff to plan adequately.

In addition, Haligonians are urged to stay away from all coastal areas, including the Dartmouth and Halifax waterfronts.

Residents are also urged to stay off the roads for their own safety and in order to not impede first responders.

“The road to Peggy’s Cove, Lawrencetown Road, and Highway Number 207 from Seaforth and Chezzetcook have been closed to non-residents,” the HRM announced.

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HRM chief administrative officer Jacques Dubé said earlier in the day that residents can expect rough winds, high seas and “potential coastal damage.”

The Halifax-Dartmouth ferry service was suspended at 2:30 p.m. while Halifax Transit’s bus and Access-A-Bus service will end as of 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Bus service is not expected to resume until at least noon on Wednesday.

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Dubé said he expects a “destruction of municipal services” in the next two days.

As a result, the municipality has cancelled curbside collection of garbage, organics and recyclables for Wednesday. Collection has been rescheduled to Saturday.

The municipality will also close all of its recreation centres as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Halifax sports fields, all-weather fields, tracks and baseball diamonds are closed and all bookings have been cancelled, the municipality confirmed.

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Information on reopening municipal facilities will be shared when it becomes available.

Although Teddy will likely transition to a post-tropical storm as it closes in on the region, it is expected to churn out gusts of wind exceeding 80 km/h.

Dubé advised Haligonians to secure their property.

“Take in your deck furniture, anything that could be picked up by a gust of wind,” he said.

Rainfall amounts in the Halifax area could reach 130 millimetres, Dubé said.

Rain ahead of Teddy will likely reach Nova Scotia by Tuesday afternoon and will continue in many areas into Wednesday.

— With files from The Canadian Press.