Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Lambton County Museums Logo

Contact Us
  • Lambton Heritage Museum
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events & Programs
    • Exhibits
    • Collections and Research
    • Learn
    • Museum @ Home
    • Virtual Education
    • News
    • Get Involved
    • About Us
  • Oil Museum of Canada
    • Visit the Museum
    • Events & Programs
    • Exhibits
    • Collections and Research
    • Learn
    • Get Involved
    • News
    • About Us
  • Lambton County Archives
    • Visit the Archives
    • Events & Programs
    • Exhibits
    • Collections and Research
    • Blog
    • News
    • Get Involved
    • About Us
  • Donate

Cameraman standing in the snow.

Emergency Response

More
Home...Lambton StoriesSnowmageddonEmergency Response
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

We started to get closures on the 402 and they just kept happening.

Everyone did their best to try and keep it open but it was no longer feasible. To end the business day, the storm intensified and the closures became massive traffic backups and a massive line that can’t be cleared. Road Sergeant’s realized they were in trouble and the roads can’t be open. At the time, they did not have snow machines but instead all-terrain vehicles. The supplier who had the contract to clean the highways had pulled their trucks off of the road due to hazards. I made my to Forest OPP detachment and could hardly stand from the parking lot. The wind was so strong I could barely see my hand.

The worst hit area was Reece’s Corners right through to Strathroy. One of his first called was the Warwick fire chief and the snowmobile club. In he went and they got fire fighters in and snow machines. At that time, due to construction, the overpass leading into the village was a temporary access point which was handy for the fire department. I gave them the go ahead to run the 402 and check on people stranded. Shelter in place was enacted since it is safer in your vehicle then walking somewhere. Check tailpipes, gas, food, and water. The Fire Chief called and stated they were making sandwiches for stranded people.

I called Orillia Headquarters to let them know what is going on and mentioned that the Air Force in Trenton could help. They train for this type of event. We got the go ahead from HQ, who placed the call to Trenton, who dispatched a Hercules who flew over and dropped flares to see the extent of the situation. The military’s first step.

Farmers with snowplows trying to help clear out cars. I called to activate emergency plans for the emergency centers to get them activated for people. Lambton Shores and Hwy. 21 opened their emergency center as well. We made a call to the County to share what is happening and the extent of it. Steve Arnold and the County activated the emergency control group. Now they are rolling into early morning and they do a conference call by phone and in the meantime the military called and said they can’t see anything. Zero ceiling and flares are no good so they had to wait. We requested griffons, the rescue copters, and they said yes. The military continued to monitor and when visibility cleared and it was safe, they were going to send the griffons down. We were able to broadcast to CHOK and tell the stranded folks what to tune to so they can communicate back and forth.

There was a lot of behind the scenes. Knowing there were many people who needed to be towed, we redeployed one of the investigation units to be in charge of clearing out the cars with no one in them. They are good at analytics and were able to coordinate it effectively. Then they put an officer in the warming centers as a means for communications.

On the next day we get into cleanup and people were brought in by the griffons and every snow machine available, everyone checked cars and got rides to where the helicopters were landing and taking people into Wyoming. We broke the area into zones so that we could keep track of where everything was and what was done. Commands were based on zone. OPP went house to house on the snow machines and report with any issues or when it is done.

Tow trucks started removing vehicles so that cleanup could get done. Others through Middlesex started from that end and worked their way back. Couple days for cleanup. First was to make sure that everyone was ok, on both main and side roads.

All kinds of stories with people going to private homes. All of them were really good to say who they took in and where they came from. Coming together of emergency services, community, and willingness of leaders came together to do what needs to be done. Officers slept in the office since they too couldn’t get home. “Is there anything we can do to help”. What you end up with is an action plan, to-do list etc.

That is where the county leaders would come for updates. By the next day people started to slowly get around. Generally speaking most people stayed home. Our officers were the eyes and ears on the road and my job was to make sure everyone had the tools to succeed at their job.

For a lot of the municipalities, this was their first time potentially activating the response. Were they prepared and have the resources available. There wasn’t a lot of complaints. Everyone knew that help was on the way. Getting into the cell phone era where they could call for help. People were registered when they came in so they were able to access loved ones so they could slowly filter out.

Lambton County Archives
    • Visit the Archives
      Toggle Section Visit the Archives Menu
      • What to Know Before You Go
      • Accessibility
      • Research and Copying Fees
      • Gift Shop
    • Events & Programs
      Toggle Section Events & Programs Menu
      • Events
      • Interactive Lessons
    • Exhibits
      Toggle Section Exhibits Menu
      • Virtual Exhibits
        Toggle Section Virtual Exhibits Menu
        • Historypin
        • The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time
          Toggle Section The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time Menu
          • Chapter 1: Scratching the Surface of Warwick Township (Geology)
          • Chapter 2: From Mastodon to Arrowhead (Prehistory)
          • Chapter 3: From Forest to Field (Early Years)
          • Chapter 4: To Everything There is a Season (Agriculture)
          • Chapter 5: From Cradle to Grave (Churches and Cemeteries)
          • Chapter 6: From Slate to Laptop (Education)
          • Chapter 7: Settlements from the Past (Birnam, Kingscourt, Saunders' Corners, Wisbeach)
          • Chapter 8: “My Kona, Your Kona, Arkona” (Arkona)
          • Chapter 9: Forest Roots in Warwick (A Personal Tour)
          • Chapter 10: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained (Businesses)
          • Chapter 11:Watford, My Home Town (A Personal Tour)
          • Chapter 12:Responsible Government (Political Leadership)
          • Chapter 13: Sports in Pictures (Sports Activities)
          • Chapter 14: St. Clair Borderers (Military pre-World War I)
          • Chapter 15: My Home, My Palace (19th Century Domestic Architecture)
          • Chapter 16: Home Children (Little Immigrants)
          • Chapter 17: From Farm Field to Battlefield (World War I)
          • Chapter 18: Good Times in Bad Times (The Great Depression)
          • Chapter 19: Home Front to Battlefront (World War II)
          • Chapter 21: Tires and Wires (Transportation and Communication)
          • Chapter 22: Overcoming Adversities (Natural Disasters, Accidents, Fires, Murders and Diseases)
          • Chapter 23: Recollections and Reflections (Miscellaneous Memories)
          • Chapter 24: The Ties That Bind (Family Histories)
          • Chapter 25: Captured Moments: One Last Look (Photos)
      • History of Community Concert Bands in Lambton County
    • Collections and Research
      Toggle Section Collections and Research Menu
      • Genealogy
      • Researcher Access
      • COVID- 19 (Coronavirus) Online Submissions
    • Blog
      Toggle Section Blog Menu
      • At the Archives
        Toggle Section At the Archives Menu
        • Collecting COVID-19 History at Lambton County Archives
        • Twas the Night Before Christmas
        • Who’s That Guy Again? Writing Safely on your Photographs
        • Rare World War One Photos and Diary Transcription Donated to Lambton County Archives
        • Lambton County Archives Capital Project - New shelving units
        • Archives Awareness Week 2014
        • Facility Name Change: Lambton Room to Lambton County Archives
        • Peek Into The Doors Open Lambton County Weekend
        • Doors Open Lambton County 2012
        • Constructing the St. Clair Tunnel
        • Ontario Genealogical Society's 50th Anniversary
        • A Foreign Affair: Upcoming Book Launch and Theatre Presentation at the Oil Museum of Canada
        • Ontario Vital Statistics: New Years Are Here!
        • The Lambton Room's New Blog: Exploring the Past
      • Conservation
        Toggle Section Conservation Menu
        • Preserving Historical Documents: Caring for your family documents at home
      • Exhibits
        Toggle Section Exhibits Menu
        • Sarnia: We Built This City
      • Historic Recipes
        Toggle Section Historic Recipes Menu
        • Pearl Betteridge’s Ukrainian Medivnyk (Honey Cake)
        • Mrs. Micheline Neif’s "Bouchées Princess”
        • Mrs. Ralph Smith's Butterscotch Cookie
        • Spicy Pumpkin Loaf
        • Isobel Sylvester's Magic Cookie Bars
        • Mary Koncovy’s Potato Pancakes (Pagachki)
        • The Lucan Family’s Chicken Stew
        • Mrs. A.C. Jamieson's Pickled Peaches
        • Butter Tart Pan Squares
        • Dutch Cabbage Rolls: Mary Schuurman
        • Never Fail Molasses Cookies
        • Wind Blown Cake
        • Oil City United Church - Mother's Chili Sauce
        • Oatmeal Bread
        • “Do You Know That…”
        • Mrs. J. Lang’s Crumb Cake!
        • Lemon Fluff Pie
        • Cinnamon Bread
        • Swedish Water Rolls
        • 1829 Ginger Pop Recipe Experiment
        • Lima Bean Chowder
        • Jersey Milk Fingers
        • Mrs. Basil Bourne's Date Pudding
        • Christine Jaques Date Squares
      • From the Vault
        Toggle Section From the Vault Menu
        • Arthur Brittain
        • Winners of Bonspiel
        • Sarnia Citizen’s Band
        • A Trip to the Royal Winter Fair by Marjorie Clemens
        • A Gem From Paris at the Lambton Heritage Museum
        • Sarnia Historical Film Footage on YouTube: 1941 Wartime Parade and 1950s Home Show
        • Local History Gem! The Sarnia Observer Negative Collection
        • The Story Behind Sarnia's Art Movement
        • Into the Belly of the Beast: Behind the Vault Doors
        • Where Did Our Collection Come From?
      • Lambton Stories
        Toggle Section Lambton Stories Menu
        • Sarnia Mechanics Institute
        • Snowmageddon
          Toggle Section Snowmageddon Menu
          • Bringing People In
          • Death in Kent
          • Destined to Run
          • Drive to the Airport
          • Emergency Response
          • Family Snow Event
          • Fearful Drive
          • Heading to School
          • Helping out in Wyoming
          • Pregnant and Stranded
          • Quiet and Cold
          • Short Stories
          • Snowmobile Rescuers
          • Stranded with Others
          • Warden Recollections
          • When Strangers Become Friends
          • Wyoming Fairgrounds
        • Lambton County Bee-keeping
        • Sarnia Vegetable Growers Association
        • Books on Wheels! History of the Lambton County Library Bookmobile
        • Interesting Lambton Businesses: The Newton Hat Shop
      • Portraits
        Toggle Section Portraits Menu
        • What is True History? The Shaw Gusher Question
        • The Young Canuckstorian Project
          Toggle Section The Young Canuckstorian Project Menu
          • Sadie Knowles
          • Dr. Marion Dougall
          • Elmer Kleinsmith
          • Deo Suzuki
          • Winnifred James
          • Edith Rice
          • Annie McLellan
          • James Merrison
          • Roy Caley
          • Jack Lewis
          • Tornado of 1953
          • Sheila Rose
          • Alf Corrick
          • Edward Causley
          • Leonard McMullin
          • Stewart Cowan
          • Charles Knight
          • Lambton Battalions
          • Lambton Remembers
        • An 1853 Letter from William P. Vidal
        • Trooper Donald McClure
        • Captain Eber Brock Ward
        • The Bury Family
          Toggle Section The Bury Family Menu
          • Captain Thomas Bury
          • John Edger Bury
          • Captain William H. Smith
          • Captain Henry Bury
          • Captain Martin Swain
        • Hope Millholland
        • Mrs. Hunter
        • Nicholas Plain
        • Peter Pennington
        • Richard Duncan
        • Noted English Officers along the St. Clair River
          Toggle Section Noted English Officers along the St. Clair River Menu
          • Captain William Elliott Wright R.N.
        • Captain Robert Dow Foote
        • Forest Resident Branches Out: The Brown Family Travel Documents
      • Researching Lambton
        Toggle Section Researching Lambton Menu
        • Newspapers at the Lambton County Archives
        • Online Resources Compiled by Lambton County Archives
        • Census Excitement and Chagrin
        • Future of Microfilm Machines
        • Genealogy Buffs Be Aware! Family History Centers
        • Genetic Genealogy
        • History Club: An Archival Program for Students
        • History in Surprising Places: Lambton County's Scenic Postcards
      • Virtual Books
    • News
    • Get Involved
      Toggle Section Get Involved Menu
      • Donate
      • Membership
    • About Us
      Toggle Section About Us Menu
      • Acknowledgement of Ancestral Lands
      • Our Story
      • Contact Us

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

County of Lambton logo

About Us

Lambton County Museums is the home of Lambton Heritage Museum, the Oil Museum of Canada, and the Lambton County Archives.

Website

  • Lambton Heritage Museum
  • Oil Museum of Canada
  • Lambton County Archives

Resources

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Website Feedback

Discoveries that Matter Logo

Copyright © Lambton County Museum 2020

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.