Orillia seeks public feedback on city’s response after historic ice storm

The City of Orillia is asking residents and businesses to share their experiences from the historic and destructive ice storm that hit the region at the end of March. Officials say the feedback will help improve the city’s emergency response for future crises.

The March storm is described as one of the worst weather events in Orillia’s history. Heavy ice caused trees to snap and downed hydro lines, leaving thousands without power or phone service. It damaged roads, properties and other infrastructure.

In the aftermath, the City declared a State of Emergency and activated its Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate relief efforts.

Mayor Don McIsaac praised the community’s resilience after the ice storm unleashed devastation.

“Our community showed incredible strength during the ice storm, and City staff and partners worked tirelessly to respond and recover,” the mayor stated.

McIsaac emphasized the importance of reflecting on how the emergency unfolded and what can be learned from the event.

“Hearing directly from residents and businesses will help us strengthen our emergency response planning and will directly inform how we plan and respond to future emergencies,” the mayor added.

To gather public input, the City launched an Ice Storm City Resident Survey, asking residents about their satisfaction with city communications, the effectiveness of services, whether any needs went unmet, and what challenges they faced. The City is also looking for suggestions on how to improve.

Paper copies of the survey are available at the library at 36 Mississaga Street West, the Orillia City Centre at 50 Andrew Street South, and the rec centre at 255 West Street South.

The survey will remain open until July 15.