Trapped by Trees, Roads Washed Out - Inside Bonfield’s Emergency Response with Mayor & Deputy Mayor

When a freak storm ripped through Bonfield, Ontario, no one was ready for what came next: 100+ damaged roadways, families stranded in parks, trees smashing into vehicles, and a state of emergency declared at 4 a.m.

In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with Mayor Narry Paquette and Deputy Mayor Jason Corbett just days after the disaster. They walk Chris and Dave through how emergency response was mobilized in the middle of the night, and why small-town collaboration might be the secret to resilience. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor also outline what needs to happen next — from rebuilding roads to lobbying for funding at the provincial level.

00:00 – Intro
03:15 – How it all began: Late-night warnings & first emergency calls
09:40 – “We declared a state of emergency at 4 a.m.” — timeline breakdown
13:10 – Camping during chaos: A tree crashes on Deputy Mayor’s vehicle
17:40 – Over 100 road issues logged, crews deployed before midnight
22:00 – First responders bulldozing through fallen trees
25:30 – Community support: Neighbouring towns and private companies step in!
29:10 – Financial cost
33:00 – Provincial help, paperwork prep, and recovery planning
37:20 – Reflections on leadership, resilience, and lessons from 2008
41:00 – Final thoughts