Twenty-five homes in Trepassey are cut off from the rest of town after pounding surf on the weekend crashed through the breakwater, causing several breaches.
Government and emergency officials are assessing the damage after the remnants of Earle cut a large swath through the road, leaving people on the lower coast without vehicle access. Mayor Rita Pennell says not even emergency vehicles can get through.
If somebody needed an ambulance, the only way to get them out would be via ambulance or boat, or possibly an all-terrain vehicle.
Damage to the breakwater in Trepassey by Hurricane Earl. Via Sharon Topping.
The MHA for Ferryland district says the scene in Trepassey this morning is complete “devastation” after the surf broke the breakwater apart Saturday evening.
Loyola O’Driscoll met yesterday with the local mayor and town councilors to survey the damage and find out what needs to be done.
He says the breakwater is gone and there are two to three feet of rock that has washed onto the road, “which is gone.” The priority today is establishing emergency access for residents of the lower coast.
O’Driscoll says there is no way to prepare for the damage caused by the force of nature.
He says the damage in the area is far worse than that caused by Hurricane Igor.
Remants of Earl Moving Away from Province
Damage to the breakwater in Trepassey by Hurricane Earl. Via Sharon Topping.
Earl has begun moving away from Newfoundland but it left a trail of devastation with damage to homes, roads and other infrastructure. Over 200mm of rain fell on parts of the Avalon Peninsula, including metro during a span of about 36 hours beginning Saturday evening.
David Neal, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the worst of the storm has passed.
Paradise got about 210 mm, Pippy Park 200 but the rain has now tapered off.
