The Alberta government is currently assessing the response to a severe snowstorm that left hundreds of people stranded in their vehicles south of Fort McMurray last week. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen mentioned during a news conference that the review will focus on communication among various organizations and the public, as well as the timeliness of the province and emergency services’ responses.
Dreeshen stated, “The review is ongoing, and we will share the results to determine if the response was sufficient and any potential consequences for the highway maintenance contractor.” He emphasized the challenging conditions caused by the significant snowstorm, which led to road closures extending into northern Saskatchewan.
The heavy snowfall began on Thursday evening, resulting in a standstill on Highway 63 approximately 140 kilometers south of Fort McMurray between Wandering River and Mariana Lake. Many individuals were stranded in their vehicles overnight as the snow continued into Friday. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) dispatched snowplows, food and water trucks, and a bus to the area on Friday afternoon. By early Saturday morning, the RMWB announced the complete reopening of the highway.
According to Staff Sgt. Sabrina Clayton of Wood Buffalo RCMP, up to 400 vehicles were stuck on the highway at one point, with no serious injuries reported. However, emergency responders faced challenges reaching a passenger with a medical emergency.
A spokesperson for Dreeshen mentioned that it is standard practice to review the highway maintenance contractor’s response after significant weather events, clarifying that the delays were due to the storm’s severity, poor visibility, ongoing snowfall, and the safety concerns for crews and tow operators accessing the scene.
Tany Yao, UCP MLA for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, expressed disappointment that motorists were stranded and stressed the need for faster mobilization of the contractor and emergency workers. He also questioned the adequacy of warnings regarding the highway conditions.
Yao stated, “It is unacceptable for individuals to be stranded overnight in their vehicles with minimal information. I had been monitoring the weather reports for days and knew what was coming. It’s frustrating, and I hope this issue is resolved to prevent such incidents in the future.”