Massive winter storm strands 360 vehicles in Southwestern Ontario

A massive winter storm stranded more than 360 vehicles on an 80-km stretch of highway between London and Sarnia, Ontario, and Lambton County declared a state of emergency and called in the military for help.
The entire southwestern Ontario area has been hit hard recently, with London receiving more than a metre of snow in December already.
Environment Canada issued snow squall warnings for the area on Dec. 13, forecasting falling snow and winds of 70 km-h.  Blowing snow and drifts have reduced visibility to nil.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) established an Emergency Operations Centre and Search and Rescue Command. Police are using special resources – including snowmobiles and four-wheel-drive SUVs – to locate and safely extract stranded people from the highway, some of which have been stranded for upwards of 30 hours.
The Canadian Forces have assigned a CC-130 Hercules aircraft and two Griffon helicopters to help carry out the rescue and airlift motorists to safety.
“Winter storms can cause treacherous driving conditions as the people stranded on Highway 402 in Ontario have experienced,” said James Geuzebroek, Insurance Bureau of Canada’s acting vice president. “It’s essential to be prepared when driving in these conditions. Check the weather before you leave, make sure your vehicle is fully maintained and pack a winter survival kit.”
IBC recommends packing the following in a kit:

• sand and shovel;
• road map and compass or GPS unit;
• extra clothing, footwear and blanket;
• emergency food pack;
• ice scraper and booster cables;
• flashlight; and
• first aid kit.