Members of the East Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called for an “all-hands-on-deck” response to Muskoka, Ont. after the massive snow event over the weekend.
According to a post on X from the force, the team travelled to Bracebridge, just south of Huntsville, to help out the Central Region OPP. A significant snowfall over the weekend closed Highway 11 for over two days and made multiple roads “impassable.”
Gravenhurst, a town in the region, was hit with around 140 centimetres of snowfall and declared a state of emergency in response to the prolonged highway closure and limited emergency services.
Police have been using snowmobiles and off-road vehicles to check on stranded motorists, many of who wanted to leave their vehicles were transported to shelters.
Officers from the east region brought multiple Ski-Doos and other off-road and snow vehicles to help.
“Anyone who finds themselves stranded is advised to stay with their vehicle and not venture out on foot,” officials said in a press release. “Pedestrians could become lost or face hazards posed by snow removal equipment.”
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Finding fuel has been difficult, with many people using generators to keep their homes warm without power. Police are noticing that people still travelling that are low on fuel should park until they can find a reliable gas station.
“Snow removal crews are working hard to keep up with the snowfall. Having additional vehicles on the roads puts the occupants at risk and adds additional challenges for snow removal.”