Kim Shorts: Burrowing out of Gravenhurst’s big blizzard

When you’re traveling, be prepared for anything.

My husband, Jim, and I were given a chilling reminder of how important that mindset is, especially in winter.

We happened to be visiting my sister, Laurie Dixon, and her partner, Ray Evans, in the Town of Gravenhurst, the week that nasty snowstorm hit the area hard, Nov. 29, 2024.

Intense snow squalls pushed quickly into the Muskoka area that Friday afternoon and buried the region over the weekend. Our plans of returning home were shut down as the area roads and Highway 11, from Huntsville to Orillia, remained closed in both directions for four days.

I don’t think I’ve seen that much snow since I was a child. It was hard to know where the cars were since they were buried deep under snow. Central and northern parts of the province were under more than a metre of snow. Gravenhurst was hit with at least 140 centimetres (55.1 inches) of snowfall!

Gravenhurst ended up declaring a state of emergency in response to the prolonged highway closure, limited emergency services, and the downed power grid. (The last time we experienced a state of emergency was during the COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020.)

There were about 400 cars and trucks stranded in the area and on Highway 11 that cold Friday night. Of those, 110 were transport trailers. It took three days to tow the stuck cars and trucks that were abandoned on the highway, into Gravenhurst. The cars were parked in parking lots around the town and many of the trucks were parked on Bethune Drive.

We had heard that it was so bad on Highway 11 that even the snowplows got stuck. In town, about 50 trees had fallen across roads and the downed hydro lines also continued to hamper clean-up efforts.

My sister lives on the corner of Bethune Drive so we knew we were not going anywhere until those big trucks left. We also knew there would be a long wait for fuel as some of the gas stations were not operating due to the power outage.

Jim and I travelled with warm clothes, coats, and boots so we were well-prepared for the storm during our extended stay in Gravenhurst. We always keep extra blankets, water, and food in the car when we travel in the winter, and ensure our phones are charged.

Reflective of any small town, it was an all-hands-on-deck response to this event. OPP officers, paramedics, firefighters, and snowplow operators used snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles to pull stranded motorists and animals from the vehicles and deliver them to Gravenhurst where an emergency shelter was set up at its Centennial Centre for people who need a place to stay.

It was amazing to hear, and witness, the support from businesses and restaurants as food was delivered to the stranded motorists and truckers. Laurie and Ray checked in with friends and ensured their 95- year-old neighbour was warm and comfortable, and was well-fed throughout the weekend. (Ray also set him up with a small portable battery pack to power his electric sitting chair.)

When the power went out Friday night, we were fortunate because Ray also had a large generator outside to help heat the house and provide basic electricity.

We spent Sunday and Monday digging out of the snow. Creating a path from the front door of the house to the cars, was fun but finding, and digging out, the cars was more tasking! It was also a challenge to figure out where to put all that snow!

Finally, Monday afternoon, with Highway 11 still closed, we decided to head north on Highway 169 to Route 38 with the plan to connect with Highway 400. The roads heading North to Bala were reportedly clear. By the time we hit the 400 and turned southbound, the highway was snow-free and dry with a cold blue sky to lead our way home.

It was nice to be heading back home to Kincardine with the knowledge that no matter where you are and how dangerous things may get, the kindness of strangers is universal in towns across Canada.

There’s a Bruce County website that provides information and tips on emergency preparedness at home. It includes a listing of what should be included in a 72-hour survival kit. Some of the items are similar to what you should have in your car. The list is long and includes a flashlight, water, non-perishable food, a knife, extra batteries, and thermal blankets.