Dorian, now a post-tropical cyclone, is wreaking havoc in Eastern Canada this weekend.
A large construction crane toppled onto a building in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday as the center of the system approached and wind gusts were rising. Halifax police said there were no injuries.
“I was so shocked,” Fatema Ali, a 22-year-old who caught the fall on video, told the Canadian Press. “My hands were shaking.
“I’m glad that nothing happened to anyone,” she added. “I was telling people that this should have been removed before the hurricane. Even if people were walking around, you never know, something could have happened.”
The bad weather is causing major damage throughout #NS, including a crane collapse in Halifax. pic.twitter.com/YxpZ5mCfPa
— CBC Nova Scotia (@CBCNS) September 7, 2019
Downtown Hfx- a crane has collapsed from top of the building bringing power lines down with it.
Many emergency vehicles are here.@CBCNS #Halifax #storm pic.twitter.com/AVECUh9xKj— ColleenJonescbc (@cbccolleenjones) September 7, 2019
More than 250,000 Nova Scotia Power Inc. customers have lost power, according to the company. There were reports of downed trees, flooding, and damaged buildings and cars all over the area.
Dorian once again became a Category 2 hurricane earlier in the day, but the National Hurricane Center said it transitioned into a hurricane-force post-tropical cyclone this afternoon after losing some tropical cyclone characteristics.
Here is the Key Message for #Dorian in the 5 pm EDT Sept 7 advisory. Note that while Dorian has become post-tropical, significant wind and storm surge impacts are still likely for portions of eastern Canada. More: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB or https://t.co/7OGkgVSNg3 pic.twitter.com/9o4s674bu5
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 7, 2019
The storm remains dangerous as it appeared to be making landfall over Halifax County in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia in the early evening.
Dorian’s maximum sustain winds are are 100 miles per hour, but gusts could be higher. Other hazards include storm surge, heavy rain, and rough surf.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he has been briefed on the storm and said his administration is ready to assist those affected by its wrath.
Just received a briefing with @HarjitSajjan, @RalphGoodale and @CDS_Canada_CEMD about the latest information on Hurricane Dorian. The safety of Canadians is our number one priority and we’re ready to help Atlantic Canada through this storm.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 7, 2019
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the Canadian Armed Forces are ready to deploy to Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia has requested help with Hurricane Dorian—the Government of Canada’s response is of course YES! The Canadian Armed Forces are mobilizing to deploy to assist with the recovery.
— Ralph Goodale (@RalphGoodale) September 7, 2019
Dorian is expected to weaken over the next couple of days as it moves across Nova Scotia and other portions of Eastern Canada and out into the Atlantic Ocean beyond.
The National Hurricane Center began tracking the system that became Dorian more than two weeks ago. It largely spared Puerto Rico as it first strengthened into a hurricane before leveling the northern Bahamas as a powerful Category 5 Hurricane with 185 mph sustained maximum winds.
Dorian sat over the northern part of the Bahamas for much of Labor Day weekend, killing at least 43 people and damaging or destroying thousands of buildings before taking aim at the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas this week.
President Trump said in a video posted to Twitter that he spoke to the prime minister of the Bahamas, and the United States is providing aid to its neighbor to the southeast.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2019
Hugging the East Coast, Dorian made landfall again over Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as a weakened Category 1 hurricane. There in the Outer Banks, it caused flooding and power outages, leaving some residents stranded.
