Helicopter delivers supplies to residents stranded in rural Cape Breton
Supplies were loaded onto a helicopter Saturday, bound for people stranded in rural areas of Cape Breton after a record-setting storm battered the region earlier this week.
The chopper landed in Tarbot Vale, N.S. where residents had been using a rope to send basic necessities across the raging river where a bridge once stood.
“They were elated. They wanted to do hugs and kisses and they were very excited about it,” said emergency management coordinator Lyle Donovan.
In Ingonish, N.S., Debbie Whitty said she is relieved people can now come and go once again, after her road was reduced to rubble by floodwaters.
“It's just unreal to have the freedom that you can just get back out on the road again,” said Whitty.
On the other side of the Cabot Trail, in Middle River, there's still a gaping hole along the main highway where a bridge once stood.
Residents are able to take a short detour, however it’s a different story for big trucks taking supplies to communities up north.
“Big tractor trailers, it can't handle. So the tractor trailers that typically deliver to those areas in Inverness County will have to bypass and go through Whycocomagh,” said Donovan.
The supply helicopter also landed on Orgeon Road, where another washed out bridge has left six residents stranded.
“People expect storms to come, but they don't expect it to be on the terms that they're stranded for weeks on end,” said Donovan.
“It's not as big a repair, but still, they're blocked off from getting out and getting, you know, any services,” said Barbara Longva, a councillor in Victoria County.
Longva said crews are focusing on repairing roads, but it will be weeks and possibly months before bridges are replaced.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.