By Emily Stonehouse
An ice storm ravaged Haliburton County over the weekend, leaving the vast majority of residents without access to hydro, internet, or cellphone service. Poor road conditions and declining visibility resulted in a wealth of community events being postponed or cancelled altogether.
The storm began to roll in the evening of Friday, March 28, with sleet starting around 6 p.m. for the majority of the Haliburton Highlands. Freezing rain took shape over the course of the evening, with power flickering on Saturday, March 29. The brunt of the storm hit on Sunday, March 30, with over 85 per cent of Haliburton County residents experiencing power loss.
“Crews are out in full force,” said a red flashing notice on the Hydro One website. “More than 257,000 customers have been restored since the start of the storm … At this time, we anticipate it will take several days to restore all customers. We won’t stop until every customer is restored.”
The site noted that crews prioritize restoration in a way that brings power back to the greatest number of customers in the shortest period of time.
While many knew to stay off the roads, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) noted that they have been significantly busier than usual. “Several trees have already fallen due to the weight of ice, injuring individuals and causing widespread damage,” reads an OPP media release. “If at all possible, remain indoors. Roads are hazardous, and conditions are likely to worsen as the freezing rain continues.”
The County of Haliburton declared a Significant Weather Event on the afternoon of March 28, which included all four townships. “This declaration may change how or when the County or Municipalities perform their maintenance operations,” reads a press release from Angelica Ingram, the manager of tourism for the county, “and may increase the amount of time to bring the roads back to a state of repair.”
All schools in Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), including all schools in Haliburton County, were cancelled for Monday, March 31. “This decision was made for the safety of students and staff, and we are communicating with families now in an effort to give time to make alternative arrangements,” said Carolynne Bull, the manager of communications from TLDSB.
For the coming days, Environment Canada is predicting warmer temperatures and increased precipitation. Hydro One will continue to restore power as quickly as they can, and remind the public to stay away from fallen lines. The OPP are continuing to encourage individuals to stay off the roads and indoors to prevent injuries from fallen trees.
