It’s estimated more than 200 people waited out yesterday’s blizzard in Emerson as a result of poor visibility and conditions that led RCMP to close Highway 75 from the U.S. border to Winnipeg.

“We probably have about 120 people, stranded  travellers, at the Emerson Community Complex simply because Highway 75 is closed due to near whiteout conditions,” explains Bill Spanger Municipal Emergency Coordinator with Emerson-Franklin. “There’s also between 60 and 70 stranded travellers occupying the hotel and restaurant in town, and the motel is all full.”

Spanger says Customs officers began diverting people into Emerson around 11 a.m. Sunday morning which worked out well because of it being Emerson Winter Carnival weekend, and a fundraising pancake breakfast on in town which those diverted travellers could eat at.

He expected more people would trickle into town as the day continued.

“We have a group of 23 trained volunteers we trained a year ago, and I’ve enlisted some their help to come down so they get a feel for what it’s like during a storm sitting day,” notes Spanger. “It’s an experience for them as well, and we seem to have everything under control and it runs pretty smooth.”