A Stormy Summer Friday in Gravenhurst
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog about emergency planning and if our town was adequately prepared for worse case scenerios. I hope I didn't conjure up this terrible afternoon storm.
As of 11 p.m. there were still many area residents without power and some with assorted limbs and full trees on their places of residence. An apartment building on Winewood and John took a considerable weight of lumber on it's roof. Power lines were down all over the urban, main street area of the town. We have had little information about the storm aftermath except what we witnessed on our own frantic drive home after the storm. Our house was fine but we did have to clear away a section of popular from The Bog that was blocking the roadway. We also had to stop on our way home to move branches from the street ahead. It's the case for us that we worry more about our animal inmates here at Birch Hollow then about the house itself. All were safe and sound when we arrived.
In a drive-about around town this evening we felt disheartened to find so many folks compromised by storm damage. We were devastated on a foot tour of Rotary Gull Lake Park to find so many of those beautiful pines damaged or uprooted along the shore. This reminds us of our tour of the park shortly after the F-0 tornado several years ago. I haven't had a chance to talk to Music On The Barge manager, Fred Schulz, regarding any compromises of the park that could affect Sunday's regular concert night. There could well be some safety issues that need to be addressed by the Town of Gravenhurst, before the concert can go ahead. I will relay Fred's update as soon as it is available for your information. Fortunately that weather resistant Barge held together once again and for that we patrons of Music On The Barge are delighted.
We were impressed by what we witnessed of good neighbourliness throughout the affected areas of town. Our thanks go out to all the first responders and hydro crews who reacted quickly to this violent turn summer weather. We assume town crews also responded quickly but we just didn't see them do to our route in and around so many fallen limbs and trees. This was the kind of event that we should come to expect as the result of the consequences of global warmng. We all need to be more prepared for these types of natural catastropes.
We had a number of people trapped in our Muskoka Road shop when the storm broke and the heavy winds made it dangerous to be outside. We saw the most incredible display of natural power as the wind funneled along the main street corridor. The water was actually being forced through the bottom seal of the heavy front doors; worrying us that the pressure was building outside that would blow out the glass panes. We saw the wind move parked cars and debris past our window and the only thing missing was the wicked witch of the west chasing after Dorothy and Toto. I think we did see the cowardly lion, the scarecrow and the tin man wiping themselves with a towel after the storm suddenly reached its state of calm.
It was frightening to see the extent of damage throughout the town and it should serve as a reminder how important it is to get advice from qualified arborists about the state of our big, beautiful trees, so that dead and dying oaks, maples and pines are removed before they crush cars and houses.
I hope there were no serious injuries as result of the storm. But there is still a great need to be careful and alert while driving around the town, and working on tree removal on your property. Many injuries and death are the result of inexperienced property owners working on restoration tasks beyond their capability. Get professional guidance for large tree removal.
We are tough little town here in south Muskoka, but just now, a little in the dark. There is work to do, good deeds to perform, and helping hands to extend. Thanks for joining me for this post storm blog. I will resume the Richard Karon series in tomorrow's blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment