Pincher Creek Voice: Pincher Creek Emergency Services helps clean up post-storm mess

Friday, September 12, 2014

Pincher Creek Emergency Services helps clean up post-storm mess

Part of the PCES cleanup crew: Dan Earle, Melissa Slingerland, Michael Whittington, Alyssa Scherer
C. Davis photo

Chris Davis

updated with more photos

Nine members of Pincher Creek Emergency Services (PCES) joined the cleanup effort last night, volunteering to remove fallen or broken branches and other tree-fall created by Wednesday's snow storm from sites all over town. They were accompanied in the effort by Town Bylaw Officer Gordon Pitt. According to Deputy Chief Patrick Neumann "Gord was kind of the instigator in this plan tonight. We worked out a plan to try to catch them (the branches) for people unable to take care of themselves because of (a lack of) equipment or tools."

Town Bylaw Officer Gord Pitt (right) "deputized" PCES members for the cleanup effort

Pat Neumann photo

The PCES crew used two pickup trucks and a trailer and hauled about ten loads to a site adjacent to the PCES hall.

All in an evening's work

Also observed between Wednesday and last night were many private citizens cleaning up their own yards and helping their neighbours, Town crews, Fortis employees, and others doing their part. The PCES crew tackled both private and public areas, including sidewalks, that the Town crew hadn't had the chance to get to yet.

Near Cleland trailer park

If you're cleaning up after an event like this, be cautious of possibly compromised lines. "Anytime there's a line or utility pole involved they should contact the utility (company)," Gord Pitt cautioned, "and if they can't get hold of the utility they should call the town. Usually we have an idea of who to call."

Pat Neumann photo

In addition to the cleanup crew, four members of PCES were assisting with the Pincher Creek Humane Society/SPCA "Raise the Woof" comedy night fundraiser that was held at the community centre. "Anybody that we've done this for, if they want to make a donation to the SPCA on our behalf, that would be nice," said Pitt. "We've had a couple of people that asked to pay us, we said "No, make a donation to the SPCA'."

"It's always nice when neighbours can help neighbours, and basically that's what this is about."