The Municipality of Port Hope says it is experiencing a high volume of calls for emergency response due to ongoing severe weather conditions.
Many roads, particularly in the north end of the municipality, are inaccessible due to downed trees, hydro lines, and ice-covered surfaces, say officials.
“Emergency response times may be delayed as our crews navigate these hazardous conditions,” reads a recent notice from the municipality. “In some areas, power has been out for (more than) 12 hours, and residents may experience poor internet and cell service.
“We urge residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.”
For those without power, there are public facilities open for people in need of water access, charging devices and/or a warm space. These locations include Fire Station 3 (3585 Ganaraska Rd.) and the Jack Burger Sports Complex (60 Highland Dr.)
However, officials are urging people to use extreme caution if travelling to these locations due to hazardous road conditions.
The municipality also said that residents should prepare for a prolonged power outage and take necessary precautions.
“Please check on vulnerable neighbours and follow official channels for updates.”
Municipal staff are also reminding residents that electricity outage information is supplied by Hydro One and Elexicon Energy providers.
Hydro One is accessible by calling 1-800-434-1235, and Elexicon at 1-866-579-6819.
These providers also provide information via their websites, outage maps and social channels as able.
“Thank you for your patience and co-operation as we respond to this evolving situation,” added municipal staff.
The Town Park Recreation Centre was also shut down on Sunday due to a power outage.
While the Jack Burger Sports Complex is open, all municipal swimming programs were cancelled on Sunday. Regular rentals were proceeding as scheduled; however, staff encouraged residents to check with relevant associations for programming updates.
In Cobourg, the town is encouraging residents to follow Lakefront Utility Services Inc. for updates on power restoration efforts. Reoccurring outages have been reported in Colborne and Cobourg. The outages are due to trees falling on wires, causing significant damage.
Crews said they are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
Central Region OPP is also reporting fielding an increased number of calls due to the storm and dangerous road conditions and damages due to falling trees.
“We strongly urge the public to remain indoors to avoid further risk of injury and to allow emergency responders to handle the most critical situations,” said OPP.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
