ⓒ OrilliaMatters
Dozens of motorists faced a harrowing ordeal on the last day of November as a major power outage and subsequent blizzard stranded them on Highway 11 north of Orillia. Some drivers were trapped since the early hours of the morning.
Emergency responders sprang into action, with OPP officers and firefighters from Bracebridge and Muskoka working tirelessly to rescue individuals from their vehicles. The stranded motorists were transported to the Gravenhurst Town Hall, which was powered by generators due to the widespread power failure.
Towing companies arrived on the scene around 12:30 p.m., but struggled to clear the hundreds of transport trucks blocking the highway. The northbound lanes near Washago remained closed for an extended period. While the majority of passenger vehicles were eventually cleared, as of 8:30 p.m., nearly 20 vehicles still required assistance.
Authorities announced that the highway would remain closed overnight as emergency services continued their efforts. Abandoned vehicles were to be towed to the Canadian Tire parking lot in Gravenhurst.
Despite the challenging circumstances, acts of community support emerged. A local family generously provided water, snacks, and hot chocolate to those stranded, while neighbours offered hot meals to drivers caught between the Sparrow Lake D bridge and the Hastings exit. The resilience and kindness demonstrated during this event are a testament to the spirit of the community.
