With 76.2 centimetres in the storm that started on Friday and finished Saturday morning in a record-smashing snowfall, St. John’s International Airport now has about 90 cm over the last few days, said Environment Canada meteorologist Rob Carroll.

At stations in neighbouring Mount Pearl and Paradise, snowfall amounts from Friday have topped 100 centimetres.

«That’s quite a bit of snow for a short period of time, I must say,» Carroll told CBC News.

All schools on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula — the most populous area of Newfoundland and Labrador — and many schools on the Bonavista Peninsula are closed Monday.

Troops from CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick arrived in St. John’s Sunday, before the latest storm set in. Up to 300 troops from across Canada are being mobilized in a federal response that was authorized Saturday.

Some of the top priorities for the troops are to clear roads, attend to elderly and sick residents and ensure that people who need medical care get to hospitals and clinics.

The state of emergency in St. John’s, the first one called in almost 36 years, means that businesses cannot open, and that cars are not allowed on the road. Some other municipalities also have similar orders in place, while others — Mount Pearl, Paradise, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s and Torbay — have lifted restrictions.

Gas stations are allowed to open in St. John’s for emergency fuel only.

Although the city originally stated all pharmacies must remain closed Monday, Health Minister John Haggie said after a discussion with the mayor, some pharmacies can open and fill prescriptions for a limited period of time.

Residents restless

Blue skies on Sunday called to St. John’s residents running low on supplies and eager for exercise. As snow removal progressed, pedestrians filled the streets, with many walking dogs and looking for convenience stores flouting the city’s order to remain closed.

Although everyone in the city was supposed to remain indoors, police said Sunday they won’t be ticketing residents for being outside unless someone was particularly stubborn or causing trouble.

Some of those shopping on Sunday said without some businesses breaking the rules, their families would be suffering.

Lori Bennett bought diapers and milk for her grandchild at a Shoppers Drug Mart, which was technically only allowed to dispense emergency medication. Bennett was grateful to staff, who told her they could get in trouble for selling her anything else — but did it anyway.

Many others sought out snacks, cigarettes and beer.

Some were unable to seek out goods, essential or otherwise. A social media group saw pleas from residents still trapped inside basements with snow blocking all exits. Some were asking strangers nearby to dig them out.

St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen asked the public for patience if their street remains snowed in.

«You’re not being forgotten,» Breen said. «The first goal is to get all the roads to have one cut in them.»

Breen said usually snow is blown up onto lawns in residential areas. «But there’s no room on the lawns, so it’s going to have to be removed,» he said, a slower operation requiring dump trucks and loaders.

On Monday morning, Breen said police will start enforcing the rules of the state of emergency — up to a $5,000 fine for people and stores who disobey it — if needed.

«We’re focused on getting the streets open and getting the residents back to their normal routines, … not in penalizing people. That said, we can’t let it get out of control because we really need the streets to be open and available to the snow-clearing equipment and our operators.»

Snow clearing aid from the Canadian Armed Forces is set to begin Monday.

Rear Admiral Craig Baines, commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic, said 200 troops arrived Sunday night, with more on the way.

They’re armed with shovels and snowblowers to dig out people still stuck inside their homes, but the city says help is limited to vulnerable populations.

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