A local state of emergency was declared by the mayor and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) council amid widespread power outages, road closures, and structural damage as Storm Fiona made its way across the island on Saturday morning. Peter Gregg, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power, says a satellite Emergency Operations Center will be opened in Sydney to serve as a secondary command center to the one in Halifax. Islanders are also being asked to shelter in place and call 911 in case of any danger as a Red Cross emergency shelter opened at 8 p.m. on Friday at the center in Sydney for those seeking refuge.

CBRM Mayor Amanda McDougall also says they were unable to open all planned shelters, with additional centers added on Saturday, due to damage to sites, including downed live wires. She says an updated list of centers will be provided soon, but residents are asked to wait to travel to them until they are given the "green light that they are ready to operate."

Cape Breton residents Arlene and Robert Gravelo fled to Center 200 with their children — aged 3 to 10 years — after a huge tree fell on their duplex, trapping them in the basement unit. 43-year-old Arlene Gravelo said, "We heard a lot of noise outside then realized there were many cracks in the house and looked outside and saw the tree had fallen. We were trapped and couldn't open doors and windows, so we decided to call 911. The kids were scared," adding that firefighters eventually rescued them. Christina Lamey, CBRM communications officer, wrote Saturday morning: "Travel is unsafe at the moment, as downed power lines and trees pose a significant hazard so please stay inside your homes."

In a press release sent Saturday at 2 p.m., Cape Breton Regional Police said they observed a large number of vehicles traveling on unsafe roads, covered with fallen trees, power lines, and other debris. According to the police force, there were more than 70 roads across the municipality at risk and impassable at that time.