Ice Storm 2025

• Emergency Work:  Removal of trees or part of a tree which poses a risk to public health and safety or threat to property.

Examples: 

If ice buildup has caused a tree to uproot, and now overhangs your dwelling or other structures, the tree may be removed.

If a tree has snapped due to the storm and the top is still attached and hanging, the tree may be removed.

If the storm has caused branches to break, and they remain attached, the broken limbs may be removed.

If the storm caused trees, or branches, to bend to an extent that poses a risk to safety or property, but has not yet broken or uprooted.

• Removal of Fallen Trees:  If a tree has fallen and is on the ground, it is allowed to be removed, including any part of the trunk that remains above the tree’s base.

• Limited preventative measures (good arboricultural practices):  If you feel there are trees that don’t quite meet the criteria above, but the strength of the trees have been compromised, a qualified arborist can be utilized to minimize potential harm. This includes pruning to remove dead branches, maintain stability, or promote natural growth.

• Clearing a pathway to reach the damaged/fallen trees
• The addition or removal of greater than one foot of fill on your shoreline
• Constructing a structure on your shoreline without a proper building permit
• Site alteration beyond removing dangerous trees, if you do not own your shore road allowance

If so, the County’s Forestry By-law applies.  So long as you are not intending to sell the wood for profit, property owners are permitted to cut down damaged trees. If the wood is to be sold or used by someone other than the property owner, then a permit may be required. There are no fees for permits under this by-law.

Please contact the County Forest Conservation Officer with details of the proposed work: jrogers@haliburtoncounty.ca

From the experience of eastern Ontario and the ice storm damage suffered in 1998 much has been learned about managing ice damaged trees and forests. The following Info Sheet on Caring for Ice Damaged Trees is an excellent resource for both professionals and landowners for management techniques and decision making under these circumstances.

Caring for Ice Damaged Trees

General Shoreline Best Practices

Watersheds Canada - Lake Publications

Love Your Lake

Kawartha Conservation - Shoreline Protection

Warming and Information Centres have been established to support residents at this time.

Minden Hills: S. G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena (55 Parkside Street, Minden)

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m

Open to all residents for refreshments, hot drinks and meals, cots for rest, showers, water, wi-fi, charging stations (please bring your own charging cords), paramedic assessment and information/updates from staff and volunteers.

Dysart et al: A.J. LaRue Arena (728 Mountain Street, Haliburton)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (not available April 12th)
Open to all residents for arena showers and lobby, charging stations. If you require a shower after these hours, please ask staff on site. 

Highlands East: Keith Tallman Memorial Arena (2256 Loop Road, Wilberforce)
Hours: Opens from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. (closes after April 11th) 
Open to all residents for a warming space, washroom facilities including showers, a place to gather in a safe and warm place, bottled water will be available and charging of all electronics. This facility does not have kitchen amenities. A public water tap is available at the fire hall in Wilberforce (2249 Loop Road, Wilberforce), and the building department in Gooderham (1043 Community Centre Rd.)

For information about potential flooding and flood preparation, please visit the Township of Minden Hills Flood Information webpage.

For information about 72-hour kits, visit the County's Emergency Preparation webpage.

Hospitals & Clinics

The Haliburton Highlands Health Services Emergency Department in Haliburton is operating as normal. Please visit only with true emergencies. 

Haliburton Highlands Health Services locations

For Facebook updates: Haliburton Highlands Health Services

The Minden Urgent Care Clinic is operating as normal.

Urgent Care Clinic hours and location

For Facebook updates: Kawartha-North Family Health Team

Hydro One continues to work on power outages in Haliburton County as well as throughout the province.

To report an outage please contact 1-800-434-1235. You can also text ‘outage’ to 92887 (WATTS). 

To view outages and estimated restoration times (this map is updated every ten minutes) visit the following website or download the Hydro One Stormcentre app on your device:

Hydro One Stormcentre

For your safety, please remember: 

• To turn off the stove or any elements that may have been in use when the power went out.

• Stay at least 10m back from downed wires. Downed wires are live and dangerous. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-434-1235. Do not call 9-1-1 unless it is a life-threatening emergency.

• If flooding occurs at home and water starts to reach electrical outlets, baseboard heaters or furnace, customers should call us at 1-800-434-1235 to have power safely turned off. Do not enter any flooded areas, such as the basement, until power is disconnected. 

In addition, customers that have damage to their home’s electrical equipment (ex. stack/pipe where the powerline from the road connects to their home), need to have a licensed electrician make the necessary repairs. Customers can learn more about the steps to take through the Electrical Safety Authority. 

Newspapers

Haliburton County Echo

Minden Times

The Highlander

Radio

Canoe FM 100.9

Moose FM 93.5

Emergency care:
In case of emergency, residents and visitors are advised to please call 9-1-1 or visit the emergency department at the Haliburton Hospital (7199 Gelert Road).

Health concerns:

For non-emergency health concerns, paramedics are available at the warming centre in Minden.

• S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena (55 Parkside St, Minden), 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  
  

Minden’s Urgent Care Clinic is open from 10 – 5 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and all weekends, and from 10 – 12:30 on Tuesday and Thursday. Please check the Kawartha North Family Health Team Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/knfht.ca) for information on updates or closures.

Wellness checks: 

For a wellness check for yourself or a family member or neighbour, please call the Community Paramedics at 705-457-3216.For information about 72-hour kits, visit the County's Emergency Preparation webpage.

Thank you, partners!:

The County of Haliburton thanks to the Red Cross, and paramedics from the County of Renfrew, York Region, County of Frontenac, Lanark County, City of Kawartha Lakes, York Region, City of Toronto and Halton Region for their assistance in supporting our community. 

April 8th:

The Haliburton Highlands OPP is advising residents and visitors to exercise caution around high water. Stay back from the water's edge and keep children and pets well away. Fast-moving water and unstable riverbanks are a serious hazard.

April 2nd:

An Important Notice for Non-Local Visitors from the Ontario Provincial Police - Central Region:

 For information about Flooding or what to do before, after and during Power Outages, including Food and Water Safety, from the Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Public Health Unit, please visit: 
Power Outages

Flooding

 For the most updated information about County road closures, please visit our News & Notices page, or the County of Haliburton Facebook page. 

 For those in need of a safe space to stay: Emergency shelter is available.

A Place Called Home

If you or someone you know needs a place to sleep tonight, contact A Place Called Home at any time, day or night, to connect with available resources. There is always someone there to help.Call 705-328-0905 and Press 1 to speak with shelter staff, or 1-866-520-2689.For more information visit: https://www.apch.ca/emergency-shelter

YWCA Peterborough-Haliburton

Emergency shelter, independent living units, and support for women (with or without children) experiencing violence and abuse of any kind is available.

Call 1-800-461-7656 or text 705-991-0110. For more information visit: https://ywcapeterborough.org/ 

 For Community and Social Services information, please visit the County's Community and Social Services website, supported by the City of Kawartha Lakes.

As of April 3rd, all offices are open during their regular business hours. 

Community and Social Services in Haliburton County

 For a wellness check for yourself or a family member or neighbour, please call the Community Paramedics at 705-457-3216.

 Please review the News & Notices from :

County of Haliburton

Township of Minden Hills

Municipality of Highlands East 

Township of Algonquin Highlands 

Municipality of Dysart et al