Christmas of 2013 when Burlington got hit by a massive storm - parts of the city were locked out for days.

By Staff

March 29^th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

Weather reports have been threatening something between 30 and 50 mm of rain and some freezing rain in parts of the province.

Burlington has dealt with this kind of weather before.

In December of 2013, during the Christmas holiday there was a storm that shut down a number of roads n the city – the rural areas were particularly hard hit.

Many of the people in rural Burlington gathered at the Kilbride Fire Station looking for answers.  Two woman who showed up in their pajamas were worried about how long their emergency generator could run.  The Fire Chief asked them what kind of generator they had.  A red one they replied.  It was that kind of an event.

We just might experience the same kind of storm: stock-up and be ready to help your neighbors.

Here are some of the pictures the Gazette published about that event.

This was a tree that was not going to give in to the weight of the ice and snow.

People on Millar Road couldn’t get in or get out – the road was completely blocked. Took days to clear up this one.

Some of the roads were clear – not as much as a branch on the ground.

Live cables that had snapped were sitting at the side of a number of roads waiting for Hydro staff to locate them and get crews out to make repairs.

Dan Guatto, doing his best to communicate in an environment where there are a lot of things not working very well. His cell phone got him through most of the problems.

Fire chief Tony Bavota handing out cards with direct line telephone numbers and ensuring that people got the help they needed. Bavota said he wasn’t going to worry about lines of authority – if they need help – Bavota did everything he could to get it to them.

Senior City Hall staff and just about anyone who could be spared at Hydro were at the Kilbride Fire station to answer questions.