Oro-Medonte remains under state of emergency nearly 2 weeks after powerful ice storm

It’s a long, costly road to recovery after the ice storm hammered the region nearly two weeks ago.

The Township of Oro-Medonte remains under a State of Emergency on Friday, nearly two weeks after a destructive ice storm hammered the region, causing widespread power outages and significant damage.

Mayor Randy Greenlaw issued a public statement on Friday stating the primary reason the declaration remains in place is due to the strain on resources from the sheer volume of debris and hazards along road shoulders and in public spaces.

“The number of downed trees, debris, and powerlines, which, in many cases, required extensive work from Hydro One to repair, resulted in additional debris on top of what had already fallen,” Greenlaw noted. “Fully cleaning the Township’s 700 kms of roads is a significant undertaking, and the Township’s top priority is health and safety.”

While Environment Canada issued a warning about the March 30 storm days before it hit, it’s fury was far from expected. Residents awoke that Sunday morning to find downed powerlines, trees torn apart, including some ripped from their roots, damage to homes and properties and considerable power outages.

State-of-Emergency

Many municipalities across the County declared states of emergency, noting clean up and recovery efforts would be lengthy. As of Friday, several lifted their declarations, including Orillia, Ramara, Severn, and the County.

Still, officials say the work is far from over. “We are staying laser-focused on our communities’ safety, security, and well-being. Our work will carry on for many months to repair the widespread damage caused by this once-in-a-lifetime storm. We are now in a place that we can move forward with the recovery efforts, largely thanks to our partners across the community and across the province,” stated Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke.

In Oro-Medonte, the mayor urges residents to be cautious driving township roads as crews work tirelessly to clear them from debris and hazards. Greenlaw also noted parks and trails remain closed due to overhanging broken tree limbs and branches.

Clean-up Efforts

As for the clean-up, the Township says the County is responsible for yard waste, including brush. Residents are told not to place brush or debris on township roads, which disrupts clean-up efforts. “We understand how difficult and overwhelming cleaning up your property is, and genuinely thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation, as roads and operations crews continue crucial work, to return Township roads to the condition we are all accustomed to,” Greenlaw added.

The County will collect curbside branches and limbs up to two metres in length and 10 centimetres in diameter. While bundling brush isn’t required, the County asks that piles “be manageable for one person to clear.”

Additionally, there is free brush drop-off at waste sites available until the end of May. “This is the fastest way for residents to remove debris from their property, especially large brush,” the County noted.

Complete information on brush clean-up and collection is available here.

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