GRAVENHURST — A $324,000 fire truck has been added to the fleet of the Gravenhurst Fire Department. This week, the town accepted delivery. “This truck was intentionally designed to be smaller than normal to facilitate access down some of our smaller cottage roads,” said fire Chief Larry Brassard. “The truck is capable of carrying 1,500 […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA LAKES — As the headwaters of more than a week’s worth of flooding their way through the Muskoka watershed into the Moon River, Muskoka Lakes Township officials are bracing for some of the same severe weather conditions found farther north. On Thursday, the township release said water levels over the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Expect a lot of talk about climate change and flooding here Friday night at a Town Hall with Green MPP Mike Schreiner. He’ll be at the Lions Hall on Fraserburg Road, which 15 kms farther out has been closed for a week due to flooding. And reports are residents […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com HUNTSVILLE — The floods continue but no longer at emergency levels here. So says the town, which lifted its state of emergency effective Wednesday, May 1. They say river flows and lake water levels within the Huntsville and Port Sydney area are steadily decreasing. As of noon Thursday, they say in […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — A driver who broke down on a flooded road — and tied up provincial police and military police who had to rescue stranded passengers — has been charged with driving on a closed road. Provincial police say this afternoon that they charged a motorist after a small car drove […]
FLOOD NOTES: Thursday, May 2 BRACEBRIDGE: 100 troops re-deployed Thursday away from Bracebridge to help Ottawa, where some 700 mostly regular forces are on scene. … The reservists also say they have been warmly welcomed, with honking horns when their trucks rumbled off Hwy. 11 into town. … They also say it’s hard for any […]
HUNTSVILLE — Flooding has brought the best — and worst — in people. OPP in Huntsville have received reports of individuals going door-to- door in the Huntsville area collecting money for flood relief. Police would like residents to know that this is a scam. They says individuals involved in this are preying on the generosity […]
MUSKOKA — The federal boating restriction ordered for Muskoka does not apply to those who live on islands, emergency workers or contractors who are helping them. Failing to abide by this order could result in fines of up to $5,000. The move comes as a few people have been on the water causing wakes that […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — A break in the rain Thursday will let some people catch their breath after on and off showers this week that have made life miserable for all who are caught up in the Flood of 2019. With 200 troops in town now assisting those who are flooded, helping town […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com QUEEN’S PARK, TORONTO — The Flood of 2019 isn’t anywhere near over, and as aid continues to pour in for victims, the province which has been criticized for its handling of the disaster is coming to the table with possible funding for those affected. On Thursday Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal […]
GRAVENHURST — In case you missed it, Muskoka tides are rising. And town officials here are touting the scouting motto — “Be prepared.” They remind residents that Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for the Muskoka watershed, forecasting an additional 30- 45 mm of rain through the end of the week, compounding existing […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — As emergency help pours into Muskoka, an army of amateur photographers have been flooding social media with vivid images. As of Thursday, 160 Canadian Armed Forces reservists from Toronto have arrive in Bracebridge and have spread out across the stricken Heart of Muskoka community. As well, a team of […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Military’s might was apparently no match for Mother Nature. A 10-ton Canadian Armed Forces truck delivering aid to flood victims on Golden Beach Road Monday lumbered off the road. And it was listing quite bit, said a witness who thought it might tip over — even after soldiers disembarked […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Amid the crisis and chaos of the flooding, which could yet get worse in the days ahead — especially to the west in Bala and on the Moon River — Muskoka taxpayers will be interested to learn that the government costs may not amount to as much as most […]
Photos © by Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — In 1892 when entrepreneur William Shaw built Bracebridge’s first power-generating station, he never would have dreamed of the flooding today. And the immense, angry falls that has emerged in 2019. He drew his first water from a source owned Henry J. Bird. But in 1894 when […]
Photos © by Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — There was a lot of talk Tuesday about receding water levels. But the damage has been done. Here’s another look at some of the flooding so far, in around Bracebridge — just one of the communities hit hard. And which is getting a lot attention, thanks […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com QUEEN’S PARK, TORONTO — Damn the flood of torpedoes aimed at the government, it’s full speed ahead for John Yakabuski, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, who continues to defend Ford government actions in the wake of record water levels again in Parry Sound-Muskoka. He said today that dams on […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — There’s no flood emergency in Gravenhurst says Todd Clapp, the town’s Community Emergency Management Coordinator. But don’t tell that to Jane and Doug Bowman, whose West Gravenhurst home has been an island for days. Twice they put in emergency calls to the town with the help of 211. Once […]
Photos © by Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — A look down the Muskoka Rivers Saturday saw a picture(s) of Muskokans at their best and worst coping with flooding, while continuing to carry on with their lives knowing they were helping friends and neighbours. If you have any pictures of the flooding, send them to […]
GRAVENHURST — Top-down management doesn’t appear to be helping as flood waters are reaching the bottom of the region’s catch basin with serioius consequences. As towns north and west delcare states of emergerncy, Gravenhurst is just now receiving its highest levels in a week. As the effects trickle down to the Severn River to its […]