Parts of Bracebridge continue to experience seasonal flooding and Bracebridge remains under a flood warning as declared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on April 14. Water levels to the north of Bracebridge are now beginning to stabilize. The north and south branches of the Muskoka River are continuing to rise. Forecasted rain over the next several days may also impact the watershed.
Take action to protect your property
Property owners are encouraged to take the necessary steps to protect their property and minimize potential damage due to flooding.
- Secure all outdoor property including docks and outdoor furniture to prevent them from becoming debris in the river and potentially limiting the flow of water;
- Ensure sump-pumps and outdoor drainage systems are working properly;
- Unplug electrical appliances – DO NOT do so if you are wet or standing in water;
- Move any valuables and/or important documents to higher levels of your home and store them in water-proof containers; and
- Move any household chemicals to higher levels of your home so they do not contaminate the water.
A limited supply of free sand and sandbags continue to be available for pickup at the Municipal Office at 1000 Taylor Court. Sandbags can be placed around lower-level doors and windows to help prevent water from entering a home, or around propane tanks or other vulnerable infrastructure. Private contractors can also provide additional resources and support.
Road Safety
Public Works crews continue to monitor local roadways and municipally owned infrastructure. Due to the increased water levels, road closures and cautions have been implemented. Exercise extreme caution when driving in changing weather conditions and obey all on-road signage and barriers.
Current road closures:
- River Road from Taylor Road (MR 42) to 50 River Road, and
- Cridiford Road from 1165 Cridiford to the end
For more information on road closures and cautions in Bracebridge, visit:
- Road Status Update – Flooding;
- Town of Bracebridge road closures; and
- District Municipality of Muskoka road closures.
Safety First
- Exercise caution while around bodies of water and maintain close supervision of children and pets due to changing water levels;
- Have a 72-hour kit prepared with all of the items you and your family need to sustain themselves for at least three days:
- Download the Voyent Alert app to receive location-based updates directly to your mobile phone, home phone and/or email. #AlertMuskoka;
- Do not consume anything that has come into contact with flood waters; and
- In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
If there is water in your basement and it’s above the electrical outlets or baseboard heaters, DO NOT enter. Call your utility provider immediately for them to disconnect power to your home.
- Lakeland Power, (705) 789-5442
- Hydro One, 1-888-664-9376
If private wells are affected by flooding, residents are advised to stop using them immediately and use an alternative water supply such as commercially bottled water for ALL water use. This includes for drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food including baby food and infant formula, cleaning, bathing, and hand washing. Visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website for more information on drinking water safety and flooding.
For more information on emergency preparedness, visit bracebridge.ca/emergencypreparedness.