Oro-Medonte mayor and many others speak to ongoing struggles following storm

Armies of crews are continuing their work turn on the power for the remaining four percent of people without power.

Hydro One says power has been restored to 96 per cent of customers impacted by last weekend’s ice storm.

Armies of crews are continuing their work turn on the power for the remaining four per cent

“There are 4,800 crews that have been working to restore power for days, and that includes the more than 30 utilities providing us with mutual assistance,” said Tiziana Baccega Rosa, a Hydro One spokesperson.

More than 14,000 still without power in the Kawartha lakes meanwhile...nearly 6,000 in the dark in the Orillia area.

The Township of Oro-Medonte is operating several warming centers and providing fresh water to residents without water supply.

“I think the hydro component is the biggest component so that we can have lights, heat and water. The full cleanup is going to take a long time,” said Randy Greenlaw, Oro-Medonte Mayor.

That’s because of the widespread tree wreckage that can be seen at every corner of the township, including the ones at Glen Oro Farm that had been standing since the 1970s.

The family Eco Centre is on a long road to recovery like many nearby businesses.

“At this point were just trying to figure out how we’re going to be able to stay operational. With the tariffs and the ongoing trade war with the united states… we were really looking forward to a bust tourism year for Ontario and Canadian residents in this area,“ said Luke Sedgwick owner of Glen Oro Eco Retreat.

For Andy McGivern the generator keeps humming at his farm that has been without hydro for more than a week.

“The farm carries on, cattle, pigs, chickens. None of that stops existing because there’s no power, so we have to just work through it, said Andy McNiven, co-owner of McNiven Farms.

“We will have you back online very, very soon. And we will come out of this stronger than ever,” concluded Greenalw.