‘Light at the end of the tunnel’: Bracebridge mayor shifting focus to recovery

There are many signs the water levels have been improving right across Simcoe and Muskoka and officials are now shifting focus to recovery.

No rain this week has certainly helped but towns and communities affected by the high water levels are not celebrating just yet. There is still a long way to go, but people keeping eye on all things water are hopeful the worst is over.

“Well I think we are starting to see a little bit of a light at the end of the tunnel,” Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney.

There are many signs the water levels have been improving right across Simcoe and Muskoka. River Road in Bracebridge, for example, has been covered in water for more than a week, but now the road can finally be seen.

“Our driveway was completely underwater. It was like a lake so we can actually park on our driveway now which is nice,” says Stephanie Hall, Bracebridge resident.

However, there are still many locations around town where the water remains a nuisance. Many homes and cottages are still surrounded by sandbags.

“We are starting to shift our focus from a response focus to a recovery focus,” says Maloney.

Maloney says there is rain in the forecast but nothing concerning. There is a high likelihood of debris in area lakes and rivers. People are being encouraged to avoid any kind of boat travel to avoid making big damaging wakes, not to mention the safety aspect of it.

“People going out, whether checking on their cottages or maybe fishing, something like that, we are recommending you stay off the water if you can because you don’t know what’s out there,” says Sgt. Steve Mihills with Bracebridge OPP. “All the water has moved up, pulled a lot of the stuff off of the debris, logs, docks, that sort of thing. You can’t see they are partially submerged.”

A state of emergency remains in effect in Minden, but things are improving slowly, so much so the town is handing over 10,000 sandbags to help in Bracebridge.

Police are asking people who do venture in low-lying and flood-prone areas to be extra cautious this weekend and not be fooled by what they can’t see under the water.

Local mayors plan to update their next move Monday morning.