Widespread power outages persist following devastating ice storm

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES/BROCK: Residents across Kawartha Lakes and northern Brock Township continue to endure power outages more than a week after a severe ice storm struck the region on Saturday, March 29th. The storm left thousands without electricity as fallen trees and damaged hydro poles caused extensive damage to power lines. Beaverton and the surrounding areas have been particularly affected, with outages still ongoing. Hydro One crews, assisted by workers from across Canada, including teams from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, are working tirelessly to restore service. The utility company estimates more than 1,200 hydro poles were damaged and require replacement.

Lindsay resident Mark Peterson, who has been without power for eight days, expressed frustration over the prolonged outage. “It’s been incredibly difficult. We’ve been relying on a generator, but fuel is expensive, and it’s just not sustainable. The roads are still a mess, and we feel like we’ve been left in the dark—literally.”

In response to the crisis, the Township of Brock has established an Emergency Centre at the Beaverton Legion, providing residents with warm meals and a heated space. The centre has been a lifeline for many still struggling without hydro. “We are doing everything we can to support the community,” said Township spokesperson Tamra Kaiser. “We urge residents to make use of these resources while crews work to restore power.”

Hydro One reported that as of Sunday, April 6th, key infrastructure, including drinking water systems, the Emergency Training Centre, and major roads such as Monck Road and Simcoe Street, have had power restored. The northwest section of the municipality, including Kirkfield and Coboconk, saw improvements on Saturday night, with the northeast now becoming the main priority for restoration efforts.

Localized flooding has also become a concern in the wake of the storm. The Burnt River saw a slight rise on Saturday night, though it remains stable for now. The Black River has levelled off, while the Gull River has also risen but remains under watch. Officials are advising residents in flood-prone areas to take precautions.

To assist with storm recovery, local landfills are operating with extended hours this weekend, and bins for spoiled food have been placed at Fire Station Warming Centres. Additionally, next week will allow for double garbage collection, giving residents two extra bags for disposal of spoiled food. Municipal officials have also assured residents curbside storm debris cleanup will begin in the coming weeks as the community transitions from emergency response to recovery.

Warming centres have been set up at the Fenelon Falls Community Centre, Woodville Community Centre, and the Lindsay Recreation Complex, where residents can access heat, water, power charging stations, and showers. Officials have confirmed as of Saturday, April 5th, at 2 p.m., all municipal drinking water system boil advisories have been rescinded, and water is now safe to consume without boiling.

Despite the challenges, residents remain hopeful full power restoration is on the horizon. Hydro One officials have indicated that most critical infrastructure will be addressed in the next few days, bringing much-needed relief to the community.

For those still affected, updates will continue to be provided by municipal officials and Hydro One as the situation evolves.