Barrie police are crediting the community and the media for the finding of a 60-year-old woman who had been missing for more than 12 hours.
Janet Powers was found by an off-duty OPP officer shortly after 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, after being reported missing from her Brucker Road home around 10 p.m., Tuesday.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday Powers was found just coming out of a "swampy, wooded area" near Salem Road.
“It was a little farther out from where she has wandered before and she certainly looked a little tired," Leon said. "Apparently she did stop and lie down briefly but all in all, she was in pretty good health and was transported to hospital by County of Simcoe Paramedics."
The search included help from the OPP helicopter, the Georgian Bay Search and Rescue team, a number of Barrie police officers and a police drone that needed to be brought down when the wind became too strong.
Leon said the community “should be very proud” in the ending of this event.
“We had our command post set up at the Mapleview Community Church and the amount of people who stopped in to see if we needed a hand or asked what they could do was amazing,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “The media coverage and keeping the public engaged was also fantastic and honestly so was social media.
"The online activity and people wanting updates was phenomenal and, today, social media proved to be a great tool," Leon added. "The family of Janet Powers is very happy and the community should be very proud."
