State of emergency Q&A

The Town of Gravenhurst is in a state of emergency.

The following Q&A is meant to answer general questions regarding the situation.

When did the town declare the state of emergency?

The Town of Gravenhurst declared the state of emergency at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. Dec. 1.

Why did the town declare a state of emergency?

The state of emergency is because of the substantial snowfall in the community and the prolonged closure of Highway 11.

Was the town caught off guard by this event?

No. The town monitors the weather at all times to determine appropriate response measures.

We knew a storm was coming on Friday and crews were ready, however due to the significant accumulation of snowfall over a short period of time the town was not able to keep up.

The closure of Highway 11 with trapped vehicles also prohibited our ability to deploy resources.

The town declared a significant weather event on Saturday.

The declaration suspends the standard timelines to meet winter maintenance objectives.

Staff and contractors continued to clear snow.

Due to continued snowfall and the prolonged closure of Highway 11, the decision was made to declare a state of emergency at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.

What’s happened since the state of emergency was declared?

We continue to work at clearing snow. But it has been slow going. We have had to deal with downed power lines, abandoned vehicles, downed trees and branches, etc.

Since declaring the emergency, we met with Emergency Management Ontario, District of Muskoka officials, Elexicon representatives, and neighbouring municipal partners to determine next steps.

Resources from other municipalities (and contractors) are assisting with snow cleanup.

Cleanup will continue for several days. Further information will be provided in future updates.

Why hasn’t my road been plowed?

Crews are doing their best. We continue to deal with downed power lines, abandoned vehicles, and challenges deploying resources.

But we will get to you.

Please be patient.

How can I help?

Please stay home. We don’t want people venturing out and then getting stuck and requiring assistance.

Please check on your neighbours to make sure they are OK.

Where can I go if I need shelter? 

NEW: Reception centre now open.

What should I do if I want to talk to someone at the town or need something? 

You can reach us through our general inquiry e-mail at info@gravenhurst.ca or telephone 705-687-3412, ext. 2200. 

What should l do if I am experiencing an emergency?

Dial 9-1-1.

How can I stay informed?

Visit our website at Gravenhurst.ca.

Updates are under the News and Notices section of the website.

You can also find information on our Emergency Updates page.

We also share updates on our Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.

Road information:

Municipal road information. 

Provincial highway information. 

What community resources can I contact?

2-1-1 is a free information service. They have a vast database of community resources they can put you in touch with.

Dial 2-1-1.

How can I stay informed about power outage updates?

Check out the Elexicon outage map.  See the Elexicon Gravenhurst page.

Check out the Hydro One outage map.

What town facilities are open?

Town hall is staffed with a skeleton crew during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If this changes we will provide updates.

The Centennial Centre is open if required for shelter but there are no programs operating.

The Gravenhurst Opera House and Gravenhurst Public Library are closed.

Again, please don’t travel unless necessary.

Call or e-mail us instead.

When will Highway 11 reopen? 

Highway 11 is now open - northbound and southbound.

Watch for further updates for check out 511. 

Municipal road information. 

Provincial highway information. 

Can I go get gas for my generator/snowblower, etc.?

At this time, we are asking people not to travel. You risk getting stuck and requiring assistance.

We will update when regular travel can resume.