Cottage country digging out after massive snowfall but challenges persist

It’s been nearly a week of heavy lifting in Muskoka as residents and crews tackle the aftermath of a massive snowstorm that dumped more than 140 centimetres of snow.

In Gravenhurst, the snow-clearing effort is in full swing, but challenges remain.

“It’s harder to do, harder to clean, harder to make room for it. We’re running out of room now,” said Gravenhurst resident Al McEwan.

The town remains under a State of Emergency, and extra snow-clearing crews from outside the region have been brought in to help.

Despite the reinforcements, even private snow removal companies are overwhelmed.

“We’re running 20 hours a day just helping people get out of their homes,” said Devin Soucie of Deline Property Care. “It just never ends.”

• Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts

Clearing the heavy snow off a roof in Gravenhurst, Ont. on Thurs., Dec. 5, 2024. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)

Alongside snow clearing, crews have been working to restore power and remove fallen trees. Arborists say the volume of work has been staggering.

“We’ve got lots of jobs here and there, but for some of them, we can’t get the stuff out because there’s so much snow,” said Steve Orr of Orr Tech Tree Service. “We’ll get there eventually.”

Meanwhile, concerns are growing about the weight of snow on rooftops.

• Photo Gallery | Snowstorm wreaks havoc across Simcoe Muskoka

One resident struggles to clear snow from his roof but says there's no where left to put it on Thurs., Dec. 5, 2024. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)

Contractors are working overtime to clear them before structural issues arise.

“I did three roofs yesterday, five today, and I’ve got six more to look at,” said Eric Rebelo of Rebelo Contracting. “There are another seven or eight calls I just can’t get to.”

Residents like Jesse DeHaan are feeling the pinch as space to pile snow runs out. “Not having a whole lot of space to throw all this snow is definitely challenging,” he said.

In Bracebridge, town crews worked through the night to clear snowbanks in the downtown core. “They did a wonderful job,” one resident said. “It was crazy — the snow was up to my chest.”

Despite progress, challenges persist.

About 1,300 Hydro One customers remain without power, many on water-access-only properties that require crews to reach them by boat or helicopter.