There was plenty of warning for this storm and it seems people listened.
As residents plow through the second day of heavy snowfall in the Muskoka area the normal anxiety surrounding such an event seems to be under control. Environment Canada called for between 35 and 40 cm of snow through today. While it was a slow start yesterday, overnight amounts certainly had people busy this morning getting ready for work.
Calling to various businesses in the area, there has not been a run on supplies, and for the most part, people are trying to stay off the roads compared to a normal day.
Chris Carignan of Bracebridge Towing says they are busy, but not to the level they would expect when a lesser storm hits.
“It’s been steady, but a lot of people are not on the road,” he says. “We are looking at about a half hour service time.”
At Canadian Tire in Bracebridge, supplies are holding up well, but winter-related items are selling quickly.
“Salt and sand are big items,” says Randy Kuehn. “We are selling shovels, winter clothing, and other winter-related accessories.”
He says people are breaking their shovels and coming in for new ones. Also, people who thought they might get another season out of an old snowblower are now giving in.
“We have sold a few for sure,” says Kuehn.
And some travellers coming through the area finally called it quits, getting off the highway and finding a room for the night.
“We were at 67 per cent capacity, which is good over a normal night,” says Sleep Inn General Manager Jenn Solway. “The majority of people were older folks, and they qualified for discounts through CAA or senior citizen offers.” The Bracebridge area motel has 63 rooms.