The Independent

Roads are closed, drivers are stranded and emergency warming centres have been opened in the wake of blizzard conditions in Lambton County.

OPP Const. Ed Sanchuck says police have dealt with over 300 calls since the snow began to fall and the winds picked up around 6 pm Friday.

Sanchuck says all of Highway 402 – from London to Sarnia – is closed in both directions. “You cannot use the 402,” he said in a video posted to social media.

Sanchuck says there are still people on the highway in their vehicles. “Rest assured we do have resources coming to you.” St. Clair Township Fire said via social media they were using their drones to help find people stuck on the 402.

Lambton County, Warwick Township, and the Town Plympton-Wyoming have all declared significant weather events saying roads are next to impassable in some areas.

The following roads are closed;

• Highway 402 from Sarnia to London in both directions
• Michigan Line, Plympton-Wyoming
• Confederation Line, Plympton-Wyoming
• Churchill Line from Nauvoo Road to Forest Road
• Confederation Line from Nauvoo Road to Forest Road

Warming shelters have been opened for stranded travellers in the following places:

• East Lambton Community Complex
  61 Centennial Ave., Watford
• The firehall in Warwick Village
• Watford Fire hall
• The Wyoming Fairgrounds
• Greenwood Recreation Centre, Petrolia

County officials, in a news release this morning said, travel is unsafe. “Residents are urged to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary. Limiting travel will help protect public safety and allow emergency crews to respond more effectively.”

Paramedics are also having difficulty getting to calls in Plympton-Wyoming and Lambton Shores. Lambton County officials ask people only to call 9-11 for life-threatening emergencies right now.

For non-urgent medical needs call Health Connect Ontario at 811.

Officials say Lambton EMS will resume normal service levels as soon as conditions allow.