Ontario Taking Action to Help Communities Impacted by the Ice Storm
- Stephen Lecce, MPP
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
TORONTO — Following the recent ice storm, the Ontario government continues to provide support to impacted communities across Ontario. Emergency management personnel and Ontario Corps partners are working in areas hardest hit by the storm, including where critical infrastructure is most impacted.
"This past week, the Ministry of Energy and Mines has been in constant coordination with Hydro One and local utilities, along with Premier Ford, to ensure that resources, power workers, and support are extended to the community most impacted by the ice storm," said Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan and Minister of Energy and Mines. "I appreciate the hard work of so many over the last few days, including first responders, power workers, local mayors, and community members who have been clearing roads so power can be restored. While hundreds of thousands of residents now have power restored, there is still a lot of work ahead. To the families affected: Ontario utilities, first responders, and the Ontario Crops are working around the clock, deploying workers, generators, and infrastructure to support you and restore power."
Teams are cleaning up debris, conducting wellness checks on residents, delivering food and water, and setting up warming stations.
“When emergencies happen, getting boots on the ground quickly can make all the difference to ensure life-saving actions are taken,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “I would like to recognize the incredible efforts of our emergency response personnel, Ontario Corps volunteers, hydro workers and first responders who answered the call to support their communities in times of need. Thanks to these efforts, we are on the road to recovery.”
The province’s top priority is the safety of Ontario residents and getting critical infrastructure like electricity back up and running.
To date:
Over 2,000 wellness checks of vulnerable population in person and by phone have been conducted
Over 100 personal hygiene kits have been distributed
Over 500 meals and food hampers have been delivered in communities
Over 1,500 people have accessed municipal evacuation sites
Over 600 volunteer hours have been contributed
Communities in need of provincial assistance during an emergency should contact the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response by way of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre. Staff are available 24/7 and will act quickly to assess the situation and determine the best support to provide to the community—Ontario Corps partners, equipment, regional field services staff and/or more.
As parts of the province brace for more freezing rain, the public is reminded to:
Prepare an emergency preparedness kit for your household with enough non-perishable food, water and essentials to stay self-sufficient for up to 3 days
Be safe around downed power lines and stay at least 10 meters away
Visit ontario.ca/511 to stay informed on local traffic and road conditions
Quick Facts
Ontario Corps partners include Team Rubicon, GlobalMedic, the Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association, Mennonite Disaster Service, Feed Ontario and the Salvation Army.
Ontario Corps is a group of skilled professionals and volunteers that the province can deploy to help communities respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, while promoting civic engagement and community participation.
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