{"id":129930,"date":"2023-01-13T10:48:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T15:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/rwddev\/?p=129930"},"modified":"2023-01-13T10:48:14","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T15:48:14","slug":"director-shares-some-lessons-learned-during-significant-storm-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/director-shares-some-lessons-learned-during-significant-storm-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Director shares some lessons learned during significant storm event"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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“One of the biggest challenges that we faced is this new normal of changing forecasts. Forecasts are not accurate at the best of times but they seem to be becoming less accurate over time,” Tarmo Uukkivi, Huntsville’s new director of operations and protective services told council at a special meeting held January 11. <\/p>\n\n\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Uukkivi was giving council a high-level overview of how the Christmas storm event was handled, and things to consider moving forward. ” So maybe lesson number one is to make sure that as we’re looking at forecasts that complacency doesn’t set in hoping that nothing comes of it. We just prepare as if it’s going to be this kind of event, each time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the amount of snow and drift caused reduced visibility. “There were all kinds of hidden hazards underneath that snow for people like plow operators and as you’re digging out there were trees under snow that you couldn’t see and we were hitting things well beyond what the normal hits were. So at that point in time throughout this, because of the nature of the snow, because of the winds and the blind site lines and the hazards, we got a lot of questions about where the plows were. We did pull them off the road for health and safety, admittedly,” said Uukkivi. “That’s one of the things that we are permitted to do when we declare a significant weather event. So it gives us the opportunity legislatively to protect our staff under the Occupational Safety Act to make sure they’re safe and not hitting something.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uukkivi said operators did remain available during that time. “The plows remained available. So the operators may not have been plowing their routes completely, although I will say that we had at least two or three plows on throughout all of this. They were available to emergency services on a call-by-call basis.” Uukkivi said when 911 calls were made and paramedics, police, or the fire department were having difficulty accessing an area, “we would dispatch a plow with emergency services and they would go clear a route for them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said their first priority during the storm was public and staff safety. Warnings were going out telling people to avoid unnecessary travel and plows were available to respond in concert with first responders. He said in terms of staff, the department was working with their experience and comfort level. “And if it was just deemed completely unsafe they weren’t required to be pushing snow, and that’s just in the best interest of everybody.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said there were also legislated requirements for hours of work that had to be adhered to. He told council all of the Town’s plow operators fall under commercial vehicle certification and there are strict rules. Operators are not allowed to work more than 13 hours during a 24-hour period. “It’s mandatory to have rest periods even in emergencies. It’s very important to follow those because we’ve all seen what happens when a tractor-trailer drives off the road, and that’s where that comes from.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uukkivi told council staffing was a challenge not only because of legislative requirements but because of vacancies that haven’t been filled. He said there were also staff members off sick over the holidays due to a cold that had spread through the department like in other workplaces. Uukkivi also noted that some members, although sick, went in anyway to help out during the storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the ability to have 24-hour coverage needs to be firmed up, including weekend resources and coverage of statutory holidays. “We were admittedly scrambling a bit to get people in,” said Uukkivi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another issue that will be delved into deeper is equipment capacity and availability. “We have the equipment to deal with a normal Huntsville winter event. There is no issue with our equipment, I need to put that out there first.” But when it comes to an event like the one experienced during the Christmas holiday, said Ukkivvi, equipment breaks down because it is not meant to deal with five feet of snow. Sometimes the equipment failure can be fixed quickly but other times it is catastrophic. Parts have to be ordered and the machine is out of commission. Sometimes fixing breakdowns, like replacing a gearbox for a blower is almost as much as a new blower, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uukkivi also said another lesson learned is to have prearranged contracts and agreements in place. He said while you hope you never have to use them, if a significant event hits like the one in December, the municipality will be given priority. He said many contractors during the storm already had other responsibilities. “That’s not a knock on anybody it just is what it is but if we had contracts in place that put the Town as a priority, that might help move things a little bit faster in the future.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said new relationships were forged as everyone – at all levels – tried to help one another, including tow truck companies. The City of Toronto also helped by loaning out two of its blowers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said communicating to the public the plan and what was happening as well as the timing in the midst of the storm was a challenge. “I think the biggest feedback from the public was what the plan was… we did have the plan in the background, we were executing on the plan but like every good group of workers, we just put our nose to the grindstone, heads down and got it done and just forgot to tell people we were doing it, or what we were up to. So that’s where I think the communication could be far improved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A detailed report with recommendations and costing is expected to return to council, possibly next month.<\/p>\n\n\n

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