State of emergency declared in Gravenhurst – update 7

A state of emergency continues in the Town of Gravenhurst. 

The latest… 

All in-town roads are now open to two-lane traffic. 

Sidewalks – the focus is on clearing sidewalks in seniors’ communities and school zones. This work will continue into next week.  

Almost all rural roads are open to two-lane traffic. 

York Region and Vaughan continue to help in town with their blowers. Vaughan and York Region are departing later today. York Region will return Monday. Vaughan is standing down and we thank the city for its assistance. 

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. 

Town crews will be taking the next 36 hours to rest (starting at noon) and will return Sunday morning. Contractors remain on duty. 

REMINDER: Please drive according to weather conditions and give yourself extra time to get to your destination. 

The Centennial Centre has transitioned from a reception centre to a warming centre. 

Weekend hours are as follows:

• Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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. 

A key reason for remaining in the state of emergency is the town can access provincial financial assistance related to cleanup costs. 

Power is restored to most areas. 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. 

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.

With the threat of milder weather, please consider removing snow from your roof. If you have structural concerns regarding your roof, please leave your house and call 9-1-1.

Watch for our next update on Monday, Dec. 9.