Hurricane Igor Aftermath: Newfoundland Burin Peninsula Hit Hard

A spokeswoman with Fire and Emergency Services Newfoundland said the damage is widespread, with roads and bridges washed out in communities ranging from the Avalon Peninsula to Gambo.

She said crews are trying to evaluate the extent of the damages to residential, municipal and provincial property, but added that it would likely exceed damages caused by tropical storm Chantal. That storm cost about $25 million after it hit the province in 2007.

There are reports of shortages on food staples on the Burin Peninsula. No one appears to be really hurting at this point; however shortages in staples like milk, bread and some produce are developing as people replenish their supplies for the coming week. Unfortunately, most grocers do the same. Perishables are ordered on a weekly basis and when the life line is broken shortages occur

Elsewhere in Newfoundland, travel along the Trans-Canada Highway remained disrupted because of an enormous crater left behind in Terra Nova National Park by an Igor-caused washout. With no alternate route through the park, ordinary traffic is effectively halted and truckers can't move important goods.

Officials said two lanes of the highway would open through the park by 4 p.m. NT.

The PM's scheduled visit Friday follows Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams' first-hand look Wednesday at the magnitude of the hurricane damage on the province's northeast coast.

"This is worse than we've seen," Williams said as he flew over Random Island — about 120 kilometres northwest of St. John's.

"We've seen a lot of damage to personal homes and to infrastructure," Williams said. "I'm glad I saw it because it gives me, and the ministers that were with me, an idea of the magnitude, the value of what we have to tackle here."