Storm Update 2025

With the municipality shifting to Storm Clean-up, there will no longer be daily storm updates on this page.

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Storm Debris Clean-up Map

Map Instructions:

The clean-up program has been broken up into two parts: Urban Area Clean-up and Rural Area Clean-up.

Use one of the following search methods:

Zoom and pan to your area of interest within the map
Click the search icon and type in an address

Map Legend:

You can see the following information on clean-up status of the road segments:

Completed Roads: Green
Partially Completed Roads: Red
Roads that haven't been started: Brown

Urban Area Clean-up

Urban Area Clean-up is happening within the settlement boundaries of our hamlets, towns and villages.
Completed hamlets, towns and villages are outlined and filled in green
In progress hamlets, towns and villages are outlined and filled in orange

Data is current up to the end of the previous business day.

Urban Area Clean-up

Urban Area Clean-up is happening within the settlement boundaries of our hamlets, towns and villages, etc. listed below.

Clean-up Zones:

Zone 1 – South East: Bethany, Downeyville, Omemee, Pontypool, Reaboro and Janetville
Zone 2 – South West: Cambray, Cresswell, Little Britain, Manilla, Oakwood and Sonya
Zone 3 – Lindsay: Lindsay
Zone 4 – North East: Bobcaygeon, Dunsford, Fenelon Falls and Kinmount
Zone 5 – North West: Kirkfield, Lorneville, Woodville, Norland, Coboconk and Cameron

Clean-up begins on Monday April 21 in the areas listed in Zone 1, 2, and 3 above. Residents should have their debris stacked and ready for pick up starting Monday April 21.

Reminder: MTO roads are not included in our storm clean-up programs.

Urban Area Program Update:

Last Update: May 9, 2025

Completed:

Bethany, Cambray, Creswell, Downeyville, Dunsford, Janetville, Kirkfield, Lindsay, Little Britain, Lorneville, Manilla, Oakwood, Omemee, Pontypool, Reaboro, and Sonya

In Progress:

Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Kinmount and Woodville

Next Up:

Zone 5 – Norland, Coboconk, and Cameron week of May 5.

Reminder, we're only doing one pass; have your storm tree and brush to your curb for April 21 to be included in the program.

Rural Area Clean-up

Rural Area Clean-up is happening outside of the settlement boundaries of our hamlets, towns and villages. If your small hamlet or village isn’t listed in the urban area zones above, it will be included in the rural area clean-up.

For the rural program, we’ve split the municipality into four zones and clean-up will start in Zone A on Wednesday April 30.

Clean-up Zones:

Zone A (South) – rural roads around the Omemee, Reaboro, Bethany, Pontypool, and Janetville areas

Zone B (East) – rural roads around the Dunsford, Downeyville, and Bobcaygeon areas
Zone C (West) – rural roads around the Cameron, Cambray, Oakwood, Little Britain, and Woodville areas
Zone D (North) – rural roads around the Kirkfield, Coboconk, Norland and Kinmount areas

If you live in Zone A, to ensure you’re included in the program, please have your storm tree and brush debris to your curb by April 27, 2025 at the latest.

Reminder: MTO roads are not included in our storm clean-up programs.

Rural Area Program Update:

In Progress:

Zone A (South) – rural roads around the Omemee, Reaboro, Bethany, Pontypool, and Janetville areas started on Wednesday April 30.

Next Up:

Zone B (East) – rural roads around the Dunsford, Downeyville, and Bobcaygeon areas are estimated to start the week of May 12
Zone C (West) – rural roads around the Cameron, Cambray, Oakwood, Little Britain, and Woodville areas are estimated to start the week of May 12
Zone D (North) – the start date for the rural roads around the Kirkfield, Coboconk, Norland and Kinmount areas is to be determined, likely starting in June.

If you live in Zones B, C and D, to ensure you’re included in the program, please have your storm tree and brush debris to your curb by May 4, 2025 at the latest.

The rural program is only doing one pass. If your eligible storm debris was curbside by April 30 (Zone A) and May 4 (Zones B, C, D), you will be included in the program.

Storm debris clean-up eligibility and instructions

Last Update: May 9, 2025

In response to the recent ice storm, the municipality will be offering storm-related curbside tree and brush removal services. This program aims to assist in clearing fallen tree branches and storm-related brush generated from private tree damage. The program will be broken up into two parts: urban area clean-up and rural area clean-up.

Key Details

Can't wait for the program? Landfills are waiving tipping fees for storm tree and brush debris until end of day June 1, 2025.

What properties are eligible?

All residences and businesses on assumed municipal roads in the City of Kawartha Lakes
Residences and businesses on unassumed and private roads that receive waste collection
Residences and businesses on Highway 7 in Omemee

What properties are not eligible?

Residences and businesses fronting on provincial highways, which are the responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO).
- The MTO will be doing clean-up on their highways, with the exception of Highway 7 in Omemee, which will be included in the urban area program.
- We do not know if the MTO will be doing residential clean-up. Please contact them to find out.
Residences and businesses on unassumed or private roads who do not receive waste collection.

What will be removed: Storm tree branches and brush debris only.

Schedule: In an effort to maximize efficiency, the City asks that all applicable material be placed for pick up no later than April 20, 2025.

What will not be removed? Regular leaf and yard waste will be left behind. Put leaves, twigs and small debris in leaf bags and hold on to them until your next curbside Leaf and Yard collection in June.

Preparation Instructions

Branches and debris, too big for regular yard waste collection, should be stacked at the curb.
Tree branches, limbs, logs, etc. should not exceed 8 inches in diameter.
Place storm debris in small piles at the edge of the sidewalk or roadside, ensuring the material is not obstructing pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
For safety, storm debris should be placed at least 1.5 metres back from the edge of the road. Any debris piles placed too close to the roadway may be pushed back by heavy equipment as required/warranted for road safety and regular seasonal maintenance operations.
Do not obstruct, block or cover utility boxes, or fire hydrants.
Place cut or broken ends facing out towards the street.
Only storm-related brush will be accepted. Leaf and yard bags will be left behind

Important Notes:

Both programs are for storm tree and brush debris only. If you put non-storm/ineligible debris like leaf and yard bags, full hedges, large root balls and logs bigger than 8 inches in diameter out, it will be left behind.
Both programs are only doing one pass; please have your eligible storm debris curbside by the dates mentioned to be included in the programs.
All eligible properties in Kawartha Lakes will be included in the program – if your town, hamlet, village, isn’t listed in the Urban Program it will be included in the Rural Program.
The towns, hamlets and villages listed in the rural area zones are examples – if yours isn’t listed specifically, look for a town that’s close to yours in the list and you’ll be included in that zone.
Please be patient as we work through the municipality. Both the urban and rural programs will likely take months to complete due to the size of the municipality and the volume of debris.
Reminder: Ministry of Transportation Ontario roads, with the exception of Highway 7 in Omemee, are not included in our programs.

What’s Open and Closed

Landfills

Storm debris: Waived tipping fees will end at the close of landfills on June 1, with regular tipping fees applying as of June 2. Regular leaf and yard debris that weighs under 250kg remains free of charge.

All landfills open regular summer hours as of May 1, 2025:

Eldon: Wednesday 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm

Fenelon: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 9am to 5pm

Laxton: Thursday and Sunday 11am to 5pm

Lindsay Ops: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8am to 5pm, and Saturday 8am to 3pm (Closed on Wednesdays - no public waste drop off)

Somerville: Monday, Friday and Saturday 11am to 5pm

Visit the Landfill page for more details.

Burning your storm brush?

Learn more about burn permits

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation outdoor spaces took a huge hit during the Ice Storm and closed due to significant damage and safety concerns.

As the municipality shifts into Storm Clean-up, these outdoor spaces will slowly begin to open. Parks and Recreation will be sharing weekly updates stating which spaces are open and which spaces remain closed. Visit the link below to keep up with what Parks are opened/closed:

Parks and Recreation Storm Clean-up Updates

Contact and Reporting Info

Customer Service

Monday to Friday: 8:30am–4:30pm (705-324-9411 or 1-888-822-2225) Press 5 for Storm Updates

After hours emergencies: 1-877-885-7337

Online issue reporting

Stay Informed

Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies
Kawartha Lakes Police (Lindsay/Ops): 705-324-5252 (non-emergency)
OPP (outside Lindsay/Ops): 1-888-310-1122
Property damage? Contact your insurance company
Website: www.kawarthalakes.ca/stormupdates
Radio: Bounce 91.9 FM, Country 105.1 FM
Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)
Handouts at local stores, warming rooms, libraries and more

Road closures: www.municipal511.ca

Staying Safe During a Power Outage

Know how to safely use generators

If you have selected a generator as a back-up power source, it is important to understand how to operate it safely:

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions
Plan to operate portable fuel-burning generators at least 6 m (20 feet) from all homes or buildings:

Direct exhaust away from open windows and doors
Close all windows and doors near the generator

Use portable fuel-burning generators that automatically shut off when carbon monoxide levels are high
Ensure carbon monoxide alarms are working
Battery- or solar-powered portable generators do not produce carbon monoxide and can be used anywhere
Connect lights and appliances directly to the generator
If extension cords must be used, ensure they are properly rated, CSA-approved cords
A back-up generator may only be connected to your home's electrical system through an approved transfer panel and switch that has been installed by a qualified electrician
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet

Visit HKPR District Health Unit resource for more information on power outage safety

Government of Canada resource

Food Safety in a Power Outage

Do not open the refrigerator or freezer door unless absolutely necessary in order to maintain the cold temperature.
Refrigerated foods become potentially hazardous for consumption if they cannot be stored at 4 C (40 F) or less. As a rule of thumb, an unopened refrigerator will keep foods cool for 4 – 6 hours without power.
Do not place frozen food outside, even in winter. The sun could thaw frozen food even when the outdoor temperature is very cold, and animals could contaminate your food.
Do not place frozen food outside, even in winter. The sun could thaw frozen food even when the outdoor temperature is very cold, and animals could contaminate your food.
All hazardous foods (meat, poultry, dairy, fish and eggs) that have been stored above 4 C (40 F) for more than 2 hours must be discarded due to the increased risk of the growth of organisms that can cause foodborne illness. It is recommended that you discard:
- Raw or cooked meat products such as cold cuts, poultry and poultry products
- Fish and seafood
- Milk and milk products, including yogurt and cheese
- Casseroles, stews, soups
- Salads such as pasta, potato, and rice
- Raw and cooked vegetables
- Frozen foods
If your chest freezer is full, foods inside should remain safely frozen for up to 48 hours after a power outage. If your freezer is half full, foods inside should remain safely frozen for 24 hours after a power outage. Any foods that are thawed should be discarded, including:
- Thawed vegetables, fish, shellfish, ice cream and frozen foods because bacteria multiply rapidly in these foods.
- Partially thawed foods that still contain ice crystals can be safely refrozen. However partial thawing and refreezing reduces the quality of most foods.
- Fruits that still look and smell good may be refrozen.

Water Safety & Free Private Well Testing

If your water source is a well, avoid turning on your faucets or flushing toilet to conserve water. Use alternate water sources such as bottled water.
Avoid using a pool or hot tub as the recirculation systems may be impacted affecting their operation and safety.
If your water source is a private well, flush and disinfect your water lines as per Well Disinfection Tool from Public Health Ontario, and test your well water to ensure it remains clean and safe for consumption.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) urges well owners to test their drinking water at least twice a year – once in the spring and again in the fall – to protect against potential health risks. Drinking contaminated water can lead to illnesses such as stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.

Testing for bacteria, including E. coli and total coliforms, is provided free of charge by the Ontario Public Health Laboratories for private well owners.

How to Test Your Well Water

Pick Up a Free Water Testing Kit – Sterile sample collection bottles are available at various locations across the HKPR District Health Unit area.
Collect Your Sample Properly – Follow the instructions carefully to avoid contamination. Use only the provided sterile bottle and ensure your sample is kept cool during transport.
Drop Off Your Sample – Water samples must be submitted to the public health lab within 48 hours of collection. There are several drop-off locations available for convenience.
Get Your Results – Test results are available within two to four business days and can be accessed by telephone, mail, email, or in person.

Where to Pick Up and Drop Off Water Samples

Water sample collection kits can be picked up and dropped off at multiple locations throughout the district area, including:

HKPR District Health Unit offices in Haliburton, Lindsay, and Port Hope
Local municipal service centers and public libraries
Select pharmacies

For more information on well water testing and maintaining a safe water supply, visit hkpr.on.ca/WellWaterTesting or contact the HKPR District Health Unit by phone: 1-866-888-4577 ext. 5006.