Newfoundland and Labrador is calling in federal troops to help with what would almost certainly be an insurmountable cleanup task.
Premier Dwight Ball officially requested immediate assistance from the federal government to provide relief to areas of the province affected by severe winter weather. Friday’s unprecedented storm left much of Eastern Newfoundland under states of emergency.
Help is on the way. Ministers @BillBlair, @HarjitSajjan, and @SeamusORegan are working with @PremierofNL to make sure people in Newfoundland & Labrador get the support they need. We’ll get through this together. https://t.co/W7nlIuJUr7
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 18, 2020
Bringing in groups like the Canadian Armed Forces will bring relief to everyone, according to Premier Ball, but especially those like seniors and persons with disabilities.
Our expected tasks will be to assist with snow removal, provide residents with transportation to warming or emergency centres, & ensure the elderly & those with health concerns are cared for.
We stand with Canadians in their time of need. Your community is also our community.
— Canadian Armed Forces Operations (@CFOperations) January 19, 2020
The military, which has already begun to mobilize, will help with snow removal, provide residents with transportation to warming and emergency centres, and ensure the elderly and those with health concerns are cared for.
In an update posted late Saturday night, the Canadian Armed Forces says deployment under ‘Operation LENTUS 20-1’ will rely heavily on reserve forces within the affected communities themselves.
They will also bolster their presence to launch search and rescue missions out of Gander. Resources from the Joint Task Force Atlantic’s Immediate Response Unit in New Brunswick, and the Royal Canadian Air Force will contribute to the response effort.
For those who answer the call, we appreciate your dedication. Elements of Joint Task Force Atlantic’s Immediate Response Unit, based out of Gagetown, New Brunswick and Royal Canadian Air Force assets throughout Canada will also contribute to the CAF’s response to this situation.
— Canadian Armed Forces Operations (@CFOperations) January 19, 2020