The people who live and work in the community of Williamsford are only beginning to assess the damage the Saugeen River caused when it overflowed last week.
Up to 75 millimetres of rain fell in the region last Thursday causing a surge of water to move through the river system. Dozens of homes and cottages were damaged and some residents have learned that insurance won't cover all of their losses.
"I know the basement is covered but apparently up here it isn't,” says Williamsford resident Ed Vickers. “It's going to take a while to see who gets what."
Long-time residents say this was the first significant flood here since Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Flood waters also damaged numerous roads in the area, as well as some bridges.
On Tuesday, officials from the Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing toured the area.
The province has two new disaster recovery programs – one for municipalities and another for individuals and businesses.
It’s too early to say if the flood damage meets the criteria of the programs. So for now, all residents can do is hope.
“We are told we can't drink the water for a long time and everything in everybody's basement has to be replaced,” says resident Al Homier. “Furnaces, water heaters, pumps… it’s just terrible.”
It's still not known how much it's will cost to repair all the bridges and roads damaged in the flood or how long it will take to get the job done.
Flooding and ice damage
Boathouses along Lake Rosseau are no match for the shifting ice.
“In my 34 years this is by far the worst for most damage caused by ice,” says Mike McMullen. “There is quite a bit of damage out there.”
Several property owners are in the same position after the wind slammed ice and water into the shoreline.
“The water level comes up. It's the same height as the dock and the remaining ice that is out on the lakes, the wind has picked up and taken the ice and smashed it into the side of the boathouses.”
Part of the concern is that many cottage owners don't know this is happening. Aside from the ice damage, high water levels have been an issue in many parts of Muskoka.
“The north branch of the Muskoka River has been holding steady probably for the last three days,” says Walt Schmid, director of Bracebridge’s public works department. “It's peaked. The south branch of the Muskoka River along Fraser River.”
However, everyone along the Muskoka River is watching the situation closely.
“They're calling for up to 20 centimetres of snow tonight and up into tomorrow. So I'm kind of concerned because that will melt off,” says Kim McCoy.
McMullen says his best advice for anyone with property on the water in Muskoka is to get up there and check it out.
