The snow and ice are causing more problems than getting from one place to another, roofs are straining under the weight of the snow, and in some cases, giving way.

Some fear it will become an epidemic.

Looking down at the Piping Resources building the damage to the roof is obvious, but Jason Adams was inside at the time and only heard a loud crashing sound.

Jason Adams says, "Just getting ready to do our weekend cleaning for my dad's company."

Before they could start the cleaning job, the roof gave way under the weight of the ice and snow. As the debris fell to the floor it activated an automatic fire alarm, and tore all the hanging pipes from their mounts.

Jason Adams says, "We heard a bunch of water pouring out so they got about 1" to 2" of water on the inside of the whole building."

It was a similar story on Christmas Day, then it was Cargo Zone Limited and the water had pooled to a depth of two feet in the street outside the building.

Graders trying to clear the make-shift lake created waves of water, ice and slush. These pictures taken from inside the building give us some idea of the clean-up ahead.

Battalion Chief David Hawley says, "I think there is a possibility that we will have more of these collapses."

Battalion Chief Hawley is in charge of the Piping Resources scene and believes that more roofs could collapse under the weight of the ice and snow.

Snow is heavy enough, the recent rain added ice to the mix, the new drifting snow added the last bit of weight some roofs could not hold.

But easing the load on the roof may not be the best move.

Battalion Chief David Hawley says, "Shoveling the roof is an awful dangerous thing you could slip and fall off, damage to a building is a whole lot better than damage to somebody falling off a roof and either seriously injuring them or worse."

So while the damage to both the Cargo Zone and Piping Resources is significant, and may interrupt operations for several days, it pales in comparison to the loss of a life.

The roofs at most risk are the flat or level roofs you find on many businesses.

Clearing them of ice and snow is an option, but if the roof has already been compromised putting a man or a man and snow-blower on top could send everything crashing down.