Muskoka Lakes Township is now the third Township in the District to declare a state of emergency.
At a press conference Sunday, Mayor Phil Harding said their primary concern in declaring was the safety of residents.
All water from Algonquin Park, he said, will ultimately make its way to Bala and out the Moon River, which is already extremely flooded five-to-seven feet above normal.
The Township is recommending that people living in low lying areas, especially on the Moon River, consider evacuating at this time.
Lake Muskoka, said the Mayor, has gone up 12 cm in the last 24 hrs.
Harding urged residents to heed road closures and local traffic only signs.
He also noted that boats cause wakes, which in this situation, cause more damage to property, so boaters should drive slow.
The Township’s Fire Dept. has gone door-to-door recently to get an accurate idea of the danger being posed in affected areas.
“We have a lot of boathouses and a lot of docks under water, but it’s the people who matter most,” stressed Harding.
The Township has also now accessed additional sand bags which are to be used to protect homes and accommodations only.
The Township has made sand, sandbags and shovels available at the Glen Orchard Yard (3951 Muskoka Road 169), Patterson Yard (1078 Raymond Road), Bala Sports Park (3224 Muskoka Road 169), and Hanna Park (40 Bailey St) on a fill your own basis.
With attention shifting now to Muskoka Lakes, Bracebridge and Huntsville remain in seeming holding patterns.
While danger still persists by rivers and flooded areas, things have not become dramatically worse in either township today, but they haven’t improved much either.
Each township will be updating on their situations daily moving forward.
