Date: March 14, 1997

Location: Port aux Basques

Easting: 338700

Northing: 5271600

Latitude: 47° 35′ 00″ N

Longitude: 59° 08′ 00″ W

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Source: Gulf News March 24, 1997 and telephone Interview with Town Manager

An avalanche took place between 7 and 7.30 am on March 14, 1997 on High Street (off Caribou Road) following a night of heavy snowfall, and high winds. The preceding month had unusually heavy snowfall. The snow was apparently fine and drifting. The avalanche mostly affected a parking lot, filling it to a depth of 8-10 feet, over an area of 150′ by 40′. At one end of the parking lot a two story house (used as a home for handicapped children) lost the deck and wheelchair ramp, which was swept into the road. A youth was shoveling snow on the deck when the avalanche occurred but was able to escape burial. A car parked adjacent to the house was swept across the road and experienced minor damage. The Town Manager recalled that a similar incident occurred about 25 years ago in this area, with some property damage to a garage, but was unable to give a specific date. He was of the opinion that the house that experienced the damage was extremely fortunate to avoid the full force of the avalanche.