Sandbag readiness in Muskoka is on the increase.
At his daily flood press conference, Mayor Graydon Smith says over 16,000 sandbags are on standby after being filled through volunteers and nearly 200 military reservists.
Smith said Fraserburg Road is still cut off by floodwaters and unlike Beaumont Farm last week, they will not be able to raise the road with large gauge aggregate.
“Town officials are prepared to cross over the closed portion of the road,” said Smith. “It’s to assess individuals and their needs who are beyond the closed part of the road and we expect that for days to come.”
Smith also spoke of a couple that was rescued by the military after finally giving up an attempt to hold back floodwaters. He said they were impressed by how it all went, but Smith continued, he was troubled by something they said.
“But one of the things that concerned me is they said they felt a little bit foolish about calling,” Smith shared. “They shouldn’t feel foolish. That’s why we’re doing all this, for you to be safe. So if you’re uncomfortable behind a closed road. If you’re uncomfortable in a home that’s potentially flooding and you’re tired out and can’t take it anymore and you think you need assistance that is why the 211 number is there for you.”
With another 100 military brought in yesterday, the total boots on the ground have swollen to 250 including town staff dedicated to the flood efforts.
With levels cresting or slightly reducing from the weekend the current forecast for up to 40 mm of rain still has tension high in the area. But the question of next steps came up in terms of after the flood and cleanup.
Smith spoke of a program available to homeowners and a separate program for municipalities that come into action during the cleanup phase. Smith estimates nearly 50,000 sandbags have gone out into the community, and they will need to be retrieved and disposed of. He says while they are thinking about that process, they need to stay focused on the task at hand, helping Bracebridge residents through this troubling time.
“I’ll be very honest we don’t have all the answers on that yet,” Smith said. “We try to be as forward-looking as we can which is why we are looking at solid waste and other questions. In 2013 we didn’t put out even a fraction of the volume of sandbags that we have out now.”
Smith also issued thanks to various businesses that have come to volunteer and fill sandbags at the Fowlers facility. Royal Bank and even corrections officers from Beaver Creek Institute are working together to keep bags available.
