By Angie Sullivan
A devastating ice storm hit our region on Friday, March 28, leaving a wake of destruction, burning hydro lines, and many residents without power or water.
The weight of ice felled many trees, making roads impassable. The power outages knocked out furnaces and sump pumps, flooding basements, spoiling food in fridges, and cutting off well water as pumps stopped working.
Hydro One, which has 4,800 crew members and contractors working to restore power, said in an update, “a major storm system swept across Ontario affecting nearly 1 million customers. This is the most devastating and widespread damage Ontario has faced since the ice storm in 1998.”
The hardest hit areas in Georgina, like Pefferlaw and Duclos Point, are in the Fenelon Falls Hydro One service area, where as of April 6, approximately 20,278 are still without power. However, 81 per cent of the 86,762 customers in the service area now have their power restored.
Lee Dale, Ward 5 Councillor, said, “Duclos Point is catastrophic and the worst affected area of all of Georgina.”
Dale added, “The beauty of what’s happening is the tremendous influx of support from residents. We’ve banded together. The Town of Georgina has implemented their emergency operations committee, and everybody has stepped up.”
Kristi lives in Duclos Point and said, “It was like Armageddon. People were using the term war zone.”
Dave is another resident of Duclos Point and said, “There’s a lot of old trees here, and branches are hanging on the hydro wires.” He added, “A lot of people came out to help drag stuff to get people’s driveways cleared. We have a strong community.”
So far, more than 2000 people have visited the Lions Community Hall in Pefferlaw to warm up and have something to eat. The Red Cross and St. Johns Ambulance are set up to provide aid and support, while Georgina Fire went door-to-door on wellness checks.
Brian Busby, President of the Pefferlaw Lions Club, said, “We have volunteers doing 12-hour shifts and going above and beyond.” He added, “This is really an example of community coming together in the face of adversity.”
Wendy Busby explained that some properties in Georgina have additional challenges. “We all have wells. There is no town water here. So, there’s no toilets, no septic, and if you don’t have a bucket with water to dump down your toilet, there is no way to flush.”
Mark Lockie, Janice Lockie, and their two daughters live in Pefferlaw and had dinner at the Pefferlaw Lions Community Center on Tuesday, April 1.
Mark Lockie said The Pefferlaw Lions Club “always outperform every time there is a need in the town. They’re always very supportive of all the local people in the community.”
“It’s amazing the response from the community, “Megan Keith, who lives in the Forestry subdivision, said.
“Our phone network was down, so we didn’t have data and we didn’t have internet. We did not know anything about this until yesterday. So this is our first time here. I would love to see leaflets go out in the mailboxes next time.”
If your family is still waiting to have hydro restored, the Pefferlaw Lions Hall is open around the clock and has hot coffee, food, and spots for 15 people to sleep. Pets are also welcome.
Other warming centers include the Georgina Public Libraries, the MURC, and the Georgina Ice Palace. Public water taps are available at Black River Road and Park Road in Sutton, as well as at the Sutton arena.
Meanwhile, Hydro One has launched a recovery grant for municipalities and Indigenous communities impacted by the ice storm.
The Ice Storm: Recovery Grant will provide up to $10,000 to support restoration efforts with essential needs including food, supplies, clean-up efforts and shelter. Applications are now open and can be found at: www.HydroOne.com/CommunityInvestment.
The Town of Georgina has also set-up a soiled food and tree debris drop-off at the Pefferlaw Lions Community Hall and the Waste Transfer Station (23068 Warden Ave), which is free of charge.
According to the Town, weekly waste pick up will continue for the month of April. All brush must be bundled, no longer than four feet in length, and under 22 kg.
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