Ice Storm Response

State of Emergency Declaration Terminated

Effective April 10, 2025, the Township of Ramara has officially terminated the State of Emergency declaration due to stabilized conditions following the widespread impact of the recent ice storm. Information regarding resources for recovery and cleanup will continue to be posted on this webpage.

Flooding Response

The Ministry of Natural Resources has issued a Flood Warning for the Aurora Midhurst Owen Sound District, specifically affecting residents of Ramara in the Black River area, including Lake St. John. In response to the flooding, the Township of Ramara is providing sand and sandbags at six designated self-serve locations.

Road Closure

A road closure remains in place for Sheba Drive, from Airport Road to Bluebird Street.

See More Flooding Information

Ice Storm Response

The Township is now focusing on recovery and long-term cleanup, as power has been restored to most of the area and infrastructure services are stable.

Brush and Debris

The County of Simcoe provides brush and debris disposal through curbside brush collection or at waste drop-off sites.

All brush and debris cleanup on private property is the homeowner's responsibility. The Township of Ramara is working on cleanup efforts at township-owned parks, trails, cemeteries, green spaces, and roads.

Curbside Brush Collection

The County of Simcoe began brush collection services on Monday, April 7, 2025, prioritizing the most impacted areas of the region first.

Currently, trucks can only collect branches/limbs up to 2 m in length and 10 cm in diameter, and the County asks that piles be manageable for one person to clear.

Bundling of brush is not required, but it is preferred as it helps crews cleanup faster.

Tip: Sort your debris into larger and smaller brush piles. Leaf and Yard Waste crews will collect what they can when servicing your property, and crews will return later for larger branches and limbs. Please remain patient as this may take months to clear.

The County is actively procuring additional support with their municipalities to bring in resources and equipment to collect and process larger brush debris.

Please follow these guidelines for brush piles that will be picked up later:

Please place debris within eight feet of the traveled portion of the road (similar location as your waste carts).
Do not block roads, storm drains, fire hydrants, or hydro infrastructure.
Do not place tree brush and branches on public property, including trails, parks, or roads.

For more information, visit simcoe.ca/waste or download the Simcoe County Collects app.

County of Simcoe Free Brush Drop-Off

To support the ice storm cleanup process, County of Simcoe waste drop-off sites will be accepting brush debris, free of charge, until the end of May 2025. This is the fastest way for residents to remove debris from their property, especially large brush.

Root balls are not considered brush and will be charged at the full waste disposal rate.

This applies to all residents, businesses and municipalities in the County. Private debris contractors will NOT be charged for brush debris unless the material is clearly unrelated to the storm. Root balls will have a charge applied, as they require additional processing.

See a full list of County waste drop-off facilities, including details on expanded operating days and temporary brush drop-off sites.

For Ramara residents, the Mara Waste Drop-off, located at 5200 County Rd. 169, is open Thursdays to Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It also has extended hours for brush-only drop off.

For more information on other waste drop-off locations and brush and debris collection, visit simcoe.ca/IceStorm.

Food Waste and Waste Collection

The County of Simcoe is the residential waste collection provider for the Township of Ramara. The County of Simcoe is maintaining its regular waste collection schedule.

Waste Drop-Off Station

Residents can bring spoiled food that is placed into an organic or compostable bag (small or large).
Remove all food packaging before placing the spoiled food into an organic or compostable bag.

The Mara Waste Drop-off site, located at 5200 Country Road 169, is open Thursday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Waste Collection

Residents with spoiled food can dispose of it in their green carts.
Remove all food packaging before placing spoiled food in the green cart.

See What Can Go in a Green Bin

Waste Collection information

Insurance and Property Damage Reminder

Residents are reminded that private property damage resulting from the ice storm event must be addressed through their own insurance provider. If you’ve experienced damage due to the recent weather events, please contact your insurer as soon as possible to begin the claims process. Insurers will typically assign qualified professionals to assess and carry out necessary repairs.

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to mitigate further damage where safe to do so. Prompt action is especially important to prevent mould growth, which can pose serious health risks and lead to additional property damage.

There have been questions circulating in the community regarding insurance deductibles. To clarify: the Township is not responsible for paying insurance deductibles for individual property claims.

If you believe you may have a claim against the Township, you must submit your request in writing to the Township Clerk. The matter will be reviewed to determine the appropriate next steps.

We appreciate your understanding and encourage residents to prioritize health and safety when assessing or addressing property damage.

Financial Support

Residents who were affected by the ice storm are encouraged to reach out to their insurance providers. Insurance policies may cover damage from tree limbs falling on a home or business premises, associated debris removal and disposal, and loss of freezer food due to a prolonged power outage.

The Province of Ontario’s Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program has not been activated for the ice storm at this time. The DRAO program is not intended to replace insurance and does not cover all costs (e.g. insurance deductibles are not eligible).

Residents in extreme financial hardship due to storm impacts may be able to access emergency assistance through Ontario’s social assistance programs. An online application form is available on the Province’s website under “Apply for Emergency Assistance” at https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-emergency-assistance.

Parks and Trails Update

All Township parks and trails are open to the public as of April 25, 2025, with the exception of Val Harbour Park, located at 3758 Harry's Lane. Greenspaces may still be affected.

We thank all residents for their patience and understanding as we work to reopen public spaces safely. Please stay clear of closed areas, and report safety hazards or damage via ramara.ca/ReportIt.

Water Access

Residents can access potable water at the outdoor water tap located at Fire Hall #1 (3290 Ramara Road 47) in Brechin near the Canine Shelter.

Water Conservation

Water Conservation Notice Ended

The Township of Ramara and the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) wish to advise users of the Brechin and Lagoon City drinking water system that the Water Conservation Notice issued on April 2, 2025, has now ended (as of April 25, 2025).

Turbidity levels in the raw (lake) water have improved, and treatment operations have stabilized. OCWA will continue to monitor the water quality closely. If conditions change, the Township will notify residents via the Township website, Alertable, and social media.

We sincerely thank all residents for their cooperation and patience.

While the notice is no longer in effect, the Township continues to encourage everyday water conservation as a best practice to support long-term sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Protect Our Wastewater System

Residents are reminded that sump pumps, downspouts, and building drains must not be connected to the municipal wastewater system. These illegal connections can:

Overwhelm wastewater treatment systems, leading to environmental discharge.
Cause sewage backups in homes.
Lead to fines and other penalties.

What to Do:

Check your property to ensure sump pumps and downspouts are not discharging into sanitary sewers.
Redirect any improper connections to a safe area (e.g. lawn or rain garden).
Contact the Township for support or questions.

Help protect your home and the community — Make the Right Connection.

Safety Reminders

Road Closures

Residents are reminded to stay off the roads and adhere to posted road closures. There are many roads with downed wires, and residents should treat every wire as live. If residents do cross a closed road, it is at their own risk and not covered by insurance; therefore, there will be no coverage for any damage sustained.

Power Restoration Information

Power Restoration Safety

As power is restored across Ramara, residents are reminded to take extra precautions to stay safe:

Ensure stoves, ovens, and other heat-producing appliances were turned off during the outage.
Reset any tripped breakers and check surge protectors before plugging devices back in.
If electronics were left plugged in, inspect them for damage before use. Power surges during restoration can harm electronics.
Turn appliances back on gradually to avoid overwhelming your electrical system. Do not run multiple high-power devices at once.
Power outages can drain backup batteries. Press the test button on each alarm to make sure they’re functioning properly.
A full freezer can keep food cold for 48 hours (24 hours if half-full). Refrigerated food is only safe for about four hours without power. When in doubt, throw it out.
After outages and storms, debris can block vents. Clear them before restarting your furnace or dryer to avoid fire or carbon monoxide risks.
If using a fireplace or woodstove during the outage, ensure chimneys or flues are properly vented and cool before switching back to electric heating.

Hydro Restoration — Damaged Utility Information

Damage to your home's electrical system may have to be fixed before Hydro One can reconnect power. If your electrical mast is pulled away from the wall, broken, or detached, please ensure you contact an ESA-licensed Electrician. Visit the ESA website for more information on this process.

Property Cleanup Hazards

If you begin property cleanup, exercise extreme caution. Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital is experiencing increased emergency room visits due to injuries from yard cleanup incidents. Residents are encouraged to hire a professional, if at all possible, especially the elderly. Hazards such as downed wires, sharp debris, and unstable branches may not be visible and can pose serious risks. Always treat all wires as live and keep a safe distance. Do not place debris, branches, or trees on roads or boulevards. This obstructs emergency response and delays cleanup efforts.

Safe Portable Generator Use

Never use a portable generator indoors. They produce fatal carbon monoxide fumes. Set them up outside away from windows, doors or vents to your or your neighbours’ house. 
A generator should be 3 to 4 feet clear of anything combustible such as structures, deck, porches, or waste bins to prevent fire.

If you're purchasing a portable generator, always look for a Canadian certification mark from an approved certification agency.

Don't attach a portable generator directly to your home's electricity system. It could cause power to flow back into the power grid and electrocute you or a utility worker, or damage the system.

Power Outage Safety Tips

Residents are encouraged to follow these safety precautions during power outages: 

Stay warm using blankets and layered clothing

Never use generators indoors or near open doors or windows due to carbon monoxide risk

Do not use barbecues, gas stoves, or camp stoves inside

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to preserve food

Use battery-powered lights instead of candles

Unplug electric vehicles to prevent power surges and protect the vehicle

Additional Safety Reminders

Stay at least 10 metres away from downed hydro lines and report them to Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.
Do not attempt to clear tree limbs that are leaning on or caught in powerlines – report them to your local utility.

Use flashlights instead of candles to prevent fire.

Never use barbecues, propane heaters, or generators indoors – carbon monoxide can be fatal.

Keep sump pumps operating and drains clear to help prevent flooding from melting ice.

Additional Public Health Resources

Residents are encouraged to review the following emergency preparedness and safety resources from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit: 

Cleaning up after a flood

Drinking water safety after a power outage

Food safety and other emergency tips

State of Emergency Information

When Does a Municipality Declare a State of Emergency?

Emergency declarations can be made by the Head of Council, in consultation with the Emergency Control Group as outlined in the Township of Ramara's comprehensive Emergency Response Plan.

A state of emergency declaration would be considered if there was a situation or impending situation that:

Threatened public safety, public health, the environment, critical infrastructure, property, and/or economic stability.
Exceeded the capacity of the community's emergency response.

By declaring a state of emergency, the municipality is able to:

Streamline its purchase/tender policies
Extend Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage to volunteers
Make claims for financial assistance for disaster recovery

All laws must still be obeyed during emergency situations by both the public and the municipality.