Residents in Lambton and Middlesex counties continue to clear snow from a recent winter storm, revealing acts of community support amid stark safety warnings. Local tow truck operator Gary Vandenheuvel, co-owner of Preferred Towing in Sarnia, Ontario, emphasizes preparation after spending hours battling drifts.
Storm Paralyzes Roads and Buries Vehicles
The blizzard halted travel across the region Friday night through Saturday, leading authorities to label it a major incident. Highway 402 shut down between London and Sarnia on Sunday, with fierce winds piling snow into drifts that buried numerous vehicles, some with drivers still inside.
Environment Canada issued yellow cold warnings for southwestern Ontario as the storm raged. Traffic rerouted to rural roads worsened conditions, trapping drivers unprepared despite blizzard alerts.
“You absolutely have to be prepared,” Vandenheuvel said. “Once that wind kicks in, and everything starts happening out there, the snow drifts start to build, and it just makes it impossible to move.”
Tow Crews and Volunteers Push Limits
Vandenheuvel’s 12-person team and other regional operators fielded hundreds of calls, working shifts up to 30 hours. Yet many stranded motorists remained inaccessible.
“Tow trucks are vehicles, just like everybody else’s. We’re not able to magically get through snow that everybody else can’t get through,” Vandenheuvel noted.
Snowmobilers and farmers deployed tractors and snow blowers to reach those in need. Graham Snyder, spokesperson for the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs District 5, highlights the instinctive response.
“It’s just kind of a natural reaction to a crisis. People knew there were people in danger, they put themselves in other people’s shoes,” Snyder said. “It wasn’t just snowmobiles either, but tractors and snow blowers.”
Police Leverage Past Lessons for Response
Ontario Provincial Police West Region media relations coordinator Derek Rogers credits pre-storm planning, refined after the 2010 event that stranded over 1,500 vehicles in Lambton County. Regional mobilization activated warming centers and vehicle checks.
Police identified about 150 abandoned vehicles on Highway 402 and handled roughly 400 calls during the storm.
“The OPP initiated what we call regional mobilization, which is essentially all hands on deck,” Rogers explained.
Essential Winter Driving Tips
Both Vandenheuvel and Rogers urge caution. Drivers must assess weather and road conditions before traveling.
“We know that people have to travel, but check the weather before you leave and make that decision about whether or not you want to risk it,” Rogers advised.
Key recommendations include:
- Verify road conditions prior to departure.
- Keep a full fuel tank, charged phone, snacks, and warm clothing.
- Remain in the vehicle if stranded.
- Clear the tailpipe of snow to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning when idling for heat.
