EMO advises New Brunswickers to prepare properties for Hurricane Lee

Government officials are warning New Brunswickers to prepare for Hurricane Lee, which isexpected to remain near Category 1 strength as it moves into the Maritimes on Saturday.

The impact of Lee may be felt in New Brunswick as early as Friday night, said New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization directorKyle Leavitt.

He said landfall could be anywhere between Grand Manan in New BrunswickandShelburne County in Nova Scotia.

Winds gusting to100 kilometres anhour winds expectedalong the coast, and winds of 60 to 80 kilometres an hour are likely in other areas,Leavitt said.

Rainfall of more than 100 millimetres andwaves from four to six metres high are expected along the coast.

Leavitt, Public Safety Minister Kris Austin, New Brunswick EMO managerPete Lussierand an N.B. Power official took part in a Lee briefing on Thursday.

Leavittsaid officials will be on standby to provide updates throughout the weekend depending on the storm's severity.

Preparations continue as Lee looms closer

At theAt the Cocagne Cape Marina in Grande-Digue, around 19 boats were coming out of the water on Thursday.

Krista-Lee Fisher, president of the Cocagne Cape Port Authority, said the marina has seen damage in the past, so she hopes removing plenty of the boats will lighten the load for the marina.

WATCH | Crane raises boats out of the Cocagne Marina:

New Brunswickers scramble to prepare for Lee's impact

1 year ago

Duration 1:10

People on the coast are getting boats out of the water, removing trailers from campgrounds and preparing for high winds, heavy rains and a possible storm surge.

She said past major hurricanes including Dorian and Fiona have "proven that we don't know what's going to happen."

"We've had major storm surges," she said. "It's just better safe than sorry."

Leavitt recommended people prepare for the storm by cleaning up around their properties, clearing catch basins and gutters, cutting down dead tree branches and getting an emergency kit.

"The best approach is to use common sense and to remain calm, stay informed and stay safe," he said.

Trent Martin, executive director of transmission and distribution operations at N.B. Power, said the utilityhas been monitoring the weatherand preparing for Lee for the past week.

He said the emergency operations centre which provides a central place to co-ordinate outage restoration planswill be opened Friday morning.

N.B. Power is checking equipment and trucks as well as preparingemployees and contractors.

"Our crews are highly trained to handle events such as these," said Martin. "I have all the confidence in our world in our team and we are committed to serving New Brunswickers."

The province has had its share of storms that knocked out power in some places. When post-tropical storm Arthur battered New Brunswicknine years ago, blackouts were widespread, and some residents had no power for two weeks.