IceStorm 98 Study

Harold Grier says that it was two days into the ice storm before he realized that they had a problem -- then the hydro went out, and the biggest problem off the top was communication, getting the word out to people about what was going on. Harold Grier says he thought that it was not going to be a short event -- nor did he think it was going to drag out for ten days. Getting the word out to people was problematic because when the Kingston transmission tower went down the people in the west end of the township could not get Brockville radio to keep in touch with developments.

Harold Grier says that not a whole lot of people even had battery powered radios, except in their cars, but people passed on information from neighbour to neighbour and the phone system (the Lansdowne system) never went down. Harold Grier says the first conversation with council members was on Thursday, he was in touch with the township clerk -- and they decided to set up a shelter -- but he thought they should hold off 24 hours to make the announcement until they had things set up before people starting arriving.

Council met every day at 1:00pm at the township office, which was not powered at first. Harold Grier says that the first concern was shelter for the elderly and setting up a door to door to check on people -- which the fire department took under control. With no power the pumping of basements became a priority as did provision of heat to elderly residents.

Harold Grier says that the meetings were attended by the fire department, the army (when they showed up) the conservation people and the county officials. Generators were procured and after a few days things were well organized.

Harold Grier says he did not find the emergency plan that useful because the plan contemplated a smaller event -- that things were dealt with to the best of everyone's knowledge and experience. Harold Grier has no knowledge of anyone challenging his authority at any time during the event. Harold Grier has praise for the volunteer fire department.

Nor did Harold Grier think about money -- the first concern was human life and paying for things was secondary. Preservation of life and keeping everyone warm and comfortable and fed was the first order of business.

Harold Grier says that the Roads Superintendent had a cell phone, as did the clerk, and Harold Grier himself was on the radio at least twice a day and people checked on their neighbors. Harold Grier says he sent out press releases but at a later date, but at the time of the event it did not seem like too many people were reading the paper. Harold Grier relied on the Brockville radio station to update what was happening in their region.

Harold Grier says that he worked closely with the clerk and deputy clerk, the latter was on the job for 48 hours without a break, and there were many volunteers working round the clock too. Some of the councilors did not show for the meetings, about half did most of the time, many had farms to attend to -- as does the Reeve himself (150 head of cattle) who has his son to assist him although his son also works for the fire department. Then there were county meetings every day (4:00pm or 6:00pm) as well as talking on the phone constantly.

Harold Grier says that most of the volunteers were organized through the fire department -- which had about 60 people which they coordinated for themselves. The phone company was set up as a generator depot where they coordinated the movement of generators, and servicing as well.

When the army came on site (Sunday) they took over the house to house checks and reported every day as to what they found. The OPP also showed up with people from Toronto and they attended the meetings and updated on the condition of residents.

Harold Grier says that he thinks that the efforts of the many volunteers, of neighbor helping neighbor, worked well. Harold Grier was amazed at where all the generators came from so quickly. The local feed store went to Guelph and brought back 60 generators and sold them for cost. Harold Grier did not have a generator of his own, and got assistance from his neighbor.

Harold Grier says that he eventually got a generator for his own cattle. The big thing that pulled them through, however, was the effort of one neighbor helping another. The biggest problem was the slow start on communication.

Harold Grier says that the local phone company did "exceptionally well" even helping put in new poles. They worked well. But off the top the biggest problem was communication and getting a system worked out.

Harold Grier says that in another ice storm he would not do a lot of things differently because he does not think there's a lot you can plan for -- that there are too many variables, decisions have to made on the spur of the moment, that most things will work if they're made to work. They do have an emergency plan and it is up to date, but did not comprehend something like an ice storm. The plan assumed robust power and communications infrastructure.

Harold Grier has no emergency training himself. Harold Grier has praise for his office staff.

Harold Grier says that contact with the federal and provincial emergency people was done through the office -- and the county had to move their headquarters to St. Lawrence Lodge but could not communicate their new location. Harold Grier went to Brockville for the first time on Sunday. Harold Grier says that even though there was ice everywhere the 401 was in good condition.

Harold Grier says he spoke with the Brockville radio station every day, giving them the up to date information on food and shelter, Hydro's progress and so forth. Harold Grier says he was concerned that someone would get hold of a hot line and be hurt so Harold Grier advised his residents to treat every line as if it were alive.

Harold Grier says he did not see much of anyone around home for about two weeks, that his son carried the bulk of the farm work at home. The pace was hectic. Harold Grier says his wife stayed on the phone most of the time fielding calls and taking messages -- preparing meals which Harold Grier could not find time to eat. Harold Grier had to run a cable across the yard to run his own furnace from the generator at his son's house.

Harold Grier says that he saw some stress in Diane (Dep. Clerk) and Gloria Crawford (Treas.) -- that they took on a lot of work and refused to take a break. After three or four days they were really fatigued but Harold Grier does not believe that anyone suffered too much from it.

Harold Grier has no documents to share with the ice storm study, although there was a debriefing which is supposed to have come from Diane Hall. Harold Grier says that no one had any big solutions in the event of another storm except "play it by ear."

Nor does Harold Grier have any anecdotes or stories. Harold Grier says he thinks that some people have taken advantage of the cost recovery scheme -- taking money for costs that they did not occur. Some people claimed for TV aerials as a disaster need, and Harold Grier wonders if this is not excessive.

Harold Grier has praise for Bill Grier's efforts. HG says that the main thing was everyone helping each other.