They’re knocking on wood at Archway Insurance’s Halifax office following heavy snowfall, temperatures feeling like -25 degrees and wind gusts reaching up to 41 km/h which have so far only provoked a mild uptick in claims.
“We have seen a few more than usual fender benders, rear ends, cars in ditches, but not a severe spike so far, we’re cautiously happy to say,” Gina McFetridge Vice President at Archway Insurance said. “Potentially one ice damning claim but we’re still early in the season. The main issue has been the icy conditions on the roads.”
Snowplows responded immediately after the storm hit but after the first squall Haligonians’ streets were salted, McFetridge said.
Rural roads were harder to clear though and all of Fairway Insurance’s eight offices along the western Nova Scotian peninsula were closed because of the inclement weather.
“We’re advising people to slow down. If they’re not comfortable driving in rural areas where the roads are maybe not cleared as well, to avoid driving if they can,” McFetridge said. “Put snow tires on, take time to clear their vehicles off, understand it’s winter.”
Everyone is a bit taken off guard in the first week when winter precipitation hits, McFetridge said.
All of the schools in Nova Scotia outside Halifax County were closed Friday.
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