Post Hurricane Clean Up & Safety

Hurricane Larry caused a significant amount of tree and property damage throughout the City of St. John’s.

Roads
Avoid travel on Saturday, Sept. 11 unless for essential reasons in order to provide City crews with time to clean up streets, sidewalks, parks and open spaces.

If you must travel for essential reasons, proceed with caution and be mindful of the potential for downed or damaged power lines and traffic signals, and areas with reduced lanes. Lanes are reduced on many streets due to debris; the public are advised to proceed with extreme caution, especially in areas where pedestrian walk lights may also be out of service, or where construction work is ongoing.

Traffic Signals
City crews are assessing damaged traffic signals and several intersections are not operational due to power outages. The priority is to remove hanging signals; the replacement process will take some time. If you must travel for essential reasons, treat intersections as four way stops if they are not operational and watch for pedestrians.

Drop-off for Tree Debris
Starting Sunday, Sept. 12, residents who are cleaning branches and trees from private property can drop off debris at one of two locations:

• the large gravel parking lot at Quidi Vidi Lake off The Boulevard, and at
• the large gravel main parking lot of Bowring Park. 

These tree and branch debris drop-offs are for residents only and are not open to accept residential tree debris until Sunday, Sept. 12. City enforcement officers are on site to maintain access for City crews only on Saturday, Sept. 11 who are busy removing debris from roadways.

A reminder that Robin Hood Bay Waste Management Facility is closed for commercial and residential users Saturday, Sept. 11 and re-opens for commercial users on Monday, Sept. 13 and the Residential Drop Off on Tuesday, Sept. 14 for its regular weekly schedule 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.

Curbside Collection of Small Debris 
The biweekly curbside yard waste collection program is suitable for leaves, twigs and small branches with a maximum diameter of 1 centimetre. 

On your recycling day, at the curb place an unlimited number of:

• paper yard waste bags weighing 50 pounds or less
• tied bundles measuring maximum 2 feet by 2 feet x 1 foot

Major Parks Closed
Bannerman Park, Victoria Park and Bowring Park are closed until further notice due to significant amount of debris that needs to be removed. An update on the re-opening of parks will be posted by Saturday, September 18.

Recreation Facilities Closed
All City of St. John's community centres remained closed today Saturday, Sept. 11.

The H.G.R. Mews Community Centre sustained damage in the storm. The facility re-opend on Tuesday, Sept. 14. The swimming pool will re-open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

All City sports fields are closed for the weekend; an update will be provided on Monday, Sept. 13.

Report Hazards
Report potential hazards such as fallen trees & branches on or near City property by calling 311 or 754-CITY (2489), or online.

Downed power lines, power outages or damaged poles can be reported directly to Newfoundland Power online or by phone 1-800-474-5711.

Further updates related to Hurricane Larry will be announced as required.