Flooding continues in many communities across the region, as water levels continue to climb.
Residents are being evacuated in parts of Grey County due to rising flood waters.
Grey County OPP went door-to-door to get people out of several homes in the Chatsworth Township area.
One of the hardest hit spots is along Highway 6 in Williamsford. Provincial police have closed the highway from Chatsworth Sideroad 5 to Chatsworth Road 24. Hydro has been cut off in this area as a precaution.
The Williamsford Community Centre is now being treated as an evacuation centre for anyone affected by the flooding in the McCullough Lake area. Flooding is also reported in Singhampton.
Due to the severity of the flooding, the mayor of Chatsworth has declared a state of emergency for the municipality.
Simcoe County flooding
In Ramara Township, the north end of the Black River is now overflowing onto some roads. However, there are no reports of flooding residences. The Black River is also spilling back into Lake St. John, which officials say will only worsen as the day goes on.
The township is making sand available for residents. They have sand piled up at parks on Bluebird Street, Ethel Drive, Davy Drive and Ash Crescent.
Sand and bags are also being made available for residents in Severn Township at Washago Park, Lauderdale Crescent and Peninsula Crescent and at the Coldwater Community Centre.
Tony Howes has been dealing with flooding in Ramara for years. He knows water in Bracebridge and Huntsville is heading his way.
"The lake hasn't increased too much in height overnight, so the river is holding,” he says. “If you wait to the last minute, you're in water doing all this, and the sand's wet enough as is it."
All eyes will be on the Black River over the next 24 hours.
"We watch the metre at Vankoughnet and that's typically a 24 hours gauge for us. Right now it's rising, so that high water will reach us probably tomorrow this time, and that will tell us how severely we're going to be flooded," says Ramara fire chief Dave McCarthy.
Highway 141 remains closed as of 6 p.m. between Rosseau and Deebank Road due to a washout.
Muskoka and Parry Sound flooding
The Town of Huntsville says they have been advised that water levels are trending toward 2013 flood levels.
The Shields family is leaving their home , as water begins to surround it.
"Right now we just lifted everything up in the house. put it on beds," says Cherie Shields. "So we're past the three or four feet mark and just getting prepared and we're out of here."
In Bracebridge, there is a potential for flooding along the North and South branches of the Muskoka River. A number of local roads have flooded including Germania Road, Campbell’s Road and in the Flynn’s Swamp area. Town officials said flooding in these locations is common in the spring.
"We've had roads that have washed out, culverts that have washed out and we have been busy," says Town of Bracebridge spokesperson Walter Schmid. "We've had probably two dozens, three dozen different washouts in different places."
Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting increased water levels on the Big East River.
A number of roads have already been washed out, causing some closures. Muskoka Road 3 between Gross and Hekkla West remains closed as of 6 p.m. A number of other roads are also affected by high water levels. In Pointe Au Baril, provincial police had to close Highway 69 due to significant flooding.
Residents in low-lying and flood prone areas are being asked to take the necessary precautions.
Rainfall totals
Following a few days of heavy rain, Environment Canada says the hardest hit spot was Beatrice. Meteorologist Geoff Coulson says the small community received 60.3 millimetres.
Parry Sound received 57.2 millimetres over the last two days, while 49.8 millimetres fell in Muskoka. The Barrie area meanwhile saw about 37.6 millimetres in the same time period.
The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority warns water levels remain high in many watercourses. The conservation authority said with the heavy rainfall water levels throughout the watershed are expected to rise to near bank-full water levels, and localized flooding may occur. No major flooding is anticipated.
