State of emergency declared in Gravenhurst – update 6

A state of emergency continues in the Town of Gravenhurst.

The latest…

Most in-town roads (approximately 90 per cent) are now open to two-lane traffic. 

On roads that are now open to two-lane traffic, crews are now maintaining these roads to regular winter standards. 

Sidewalks – the focus is on clearing sidewalks in seniors’ communities and school zones.

All rural roads are open to one-lane traffic. Staff anticipate these roads will be open to two-lane traffic on Friday. 

York Region and Vaughan continue to help in town with their blowers. 

Pending no further significant events, town crews will begin clearing snow from boulevards next week with an initial focus on the downtown, seniors’ communities, and school zones. 

Municipal road information.

Provincial highway information.

The reception centre at the Centennial Centre will close at 10:30 p.m. tonight and transition to a warming centre that will be staffed during regular Centennial Centre hours, starting Friday morning at 6 a.m.

Georgian Bay Volunteer Search and Rescue has stood down. We thank them for their assistance with wellness checks, transporting people to the Centennial Centre, and relaying goods to people in need. 

The state of emergency will continue to ensure the town has the appropriate resources to deal with the cleanup, however the focus is now shifting towards recovery and a return to overall normal operations. 

Power restoration continues. See the Elexicon outage map. See the Elexicon Gravenhurst page. See Hydro One outage map.

Things to keep in mind…

People on private roads requiring snow removal – please see our list of contractors. If you are a contractor and wish to be added to the list, please contact us through the phone number or e-mail address below. 

The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit’s Gravenhurst office is open and accepting well water samples for testing. See the SMDHU website for more details.

People with questions about the state of emergency or specific needs can e-mail us at info@gravenhurst.ca or call 705-687-3412, and press 8.

We are specifically requesting that people from outside the area not make their way to Gravenhurst. This includes individuals wanting to check cottage properties. Additional vehicle traffic in the community is a hindrance to cleanup.  

Recreation programs at the Centennial Centre have ceased until further notice. 

The Gravenhurst Public Library is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.  

Town hall is open during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) weekdays. 

If you experience an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

General safety reminders:

 Don’t leave candles unattended.

Don’t leave cooking areas unattended.

Take breaks if you are shoveling snow.

Keep snow away from furnace vents.