An emergency shelter set up by the Canadian Red Cross at the Côte-des-Neiges community center will be operational again on Sunday night for individuals in the Côte Saint-Luc and NDG area facing power outages at their residences. The City of Côte Saint-Luc made the decision to keep the emergency shelter open due to the persisting extreme cold weather and uncertainty regarding power restoration by Hydro-Québec.
The shelter is situated at 5347 Côte-des-Neiges Rd. Additionally, the public library will extend its operating hours until 9 p.m. to accommodate those seeking warmth. In the Côte‑des‑Neiges‑Notre‑Dame‑de‑Grâce borough, affected residents can seek refuge at various locations including the Centre Communautaire Monkland, Centre sportif Trenholme, the NDG library, the Doug Harvey arena, and the Centre sportif Côte-des-Neiges, all of which will be accessible until 10 p.m.
Hydro-Québec, in an email to CBC News, mentioned their efforts to restore power to customers throughout the night, but some addresses might have to wait until Monday for reconnection. Côte Saint-Luc, Montreal West, and the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough have advised individuals in need of overnight shelter to head to the community center amid the power outage situation.
Residents are urged to bring essential personal items if planning to stay overnight at the shelter, including medications, medical supplies, phone chargers, toiletries, and items for personal comfort. Moreover, individuals are advised to leave a small stream of water running at one sink to prevent pipe freezing if leaving their homes. It is also suggested to check fridges for spoiled food upon returning home after extended power outages to prevent food contamination.
As of 5 p.m. on Sunday, around 5,600 power outages were reported in the Montreal region, with a significant portion of those affected residing in the Côte Saint-Luc and NDG areas. Transportation has been arranged by the City of Côte Saint-Luc to facilitate access to the emergency shelter, with the Aquatic and Community Centre serving as a pickup point for residents in need of transportation assistance.
