Running on fumes: Gas station in Hopedale out of fuel
Katie Breen | CBC News | Posted: November 7, 2016 7:44 PM | Last Updated: November 7, 2016
The northern Labrador community has fuel for emergency services but not for general use
Fuel at Hopedale's only service station has dried up and the shipment meant to tie residents over until the main, winter supply arrives is days away.
In the meantime, emergency services like fire services, the RCMP, and search and rescue have been covered off by a 10-drum shipment from Nain, a community further up Labrador's coast.
"Everyone is just in shock...We can't believe [it], it's 2016, it shouldn't be happening," Danielle Pottle, Hopedale's deputy angajukKâk, or deputy mayor, told CBC's Labrador Morning.
Empty since Friday
The community's pump ran dry on Friday, a week after the Woodward Group of Companies — the company that supplies Hopedale's lone station with gas — called the town council to warn that levels were low.
Everyone is just in shock - Danielle Pottle, deputy angajukKâk
"We can't just go out to multiple gas stations and get our gas," Pottle said.
"We'll definitely have to look at why it happened and how to prevent it in the future."
Fuel rations on the way
Twenty drums of gas are expected to arrive in Hopedale on Thursday.
A spokesperson for Woodward's told CBC News the interim supply will leave from Happy Valley-Goose Bay on the MV Astron which will stop in Rigolet, Makkovik and Postville before making the delivery.
A number of people in the community including the local taxi driver and Pottle didn't get a chance to fill up before the shortage.
It's really bad for the public - Danielle Pottle, deputy angajukKâk
"It's really bad for the public. I mean just trying to get to and from work, getting our children to school, it's really bad," she said.
"Going out for a walk isn't what happens this time of year."
Main shipment more than a week away
According to Pottle, a tanker with the community's main winter shipment is due "on or around Nov. 17."
Her hope is that the 10 drums from Nain and the 20 en route will be enough to keep everyone gassed up until that biannual shipment docks.
"We're pretty comfortable with the 10 drums that are coming in for essential services so there isn't much panic there," she said.
Her main reservation is a potential weather delay.
"Hopefully, the tanker doesn't get stormbound on the way up to us."