Volunteers are recalling a frantic weekend effort to help motorists stranded for hours in northern Alberta. bleaching conditions made travel almost impossible.
Andrew Laidlaw, part of a group of volunteers who came out to help the stranded, said the situation quickly escalated.
“At first, it didn’t seem like it was going to be a long-term issue,” he told Global News. “But after a while, we kept seeing more people saying they were stuck.”
Laidlaw said his off-road team mobilized within hours, gathering supplies with the help of the community.
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“Within an hour and a half, we had raised over $2,500,” he said, adding that volunteers loaded the vehicles with fuel, food and water before they set off.
As of Sunday morning, Highway 63 towards Fort McMurray has reopened, although Highway 16 remains closed west of Jasper.
Drivers are advised to check Alberta’s 511 service for the latest traffic updates.
Laidlaw said driving conditions were severe, with icy roads, whiteout conditions and snowfall up to a meter high.
“What would normally be less than an hour’s drive took several hours,” he said. “People were stuck, out of fuel and starting to get cold.”
Kaleshia Kiyan, another volunteer, said she helped coordinate support through social media, connecting stranded drivers with those who could help.
“I made as many posts as I could, looking for water, food and fuel,” she said.
Kiyan said volunteers monitored incoming messages and worked to direct help to those most in need, including a 19-year-old driver who had been stranded alone for more than 20 hours.
“We just kept track of where people were and tried to help them,” she said.
Kiyan and Laidlaw both said the response highlighted how quickly the community came together to support those affected.
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