City of Burlington under elevated state of emergency amid flooding

Many homes in Burlington were inundated with water following back-to-back days of heavy rain, which has elevated the city’s state of emergency.

“The City is currently in a Level 2 Emergency,” Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said on Tuesday.

“This means that City staff, in coordination with local and regional partners are actively responding to the emergency in real-time, clearing debris from our waterways, doing repair work to City property, visiting hot spot locations to monitor and manage water levels, responding to calls for service and more.”

The flooding has left some residents scrambling to find temporary shelter as area roads close and overwhelmed culverts spill water into the streets and homes of many.

“Downstairs is flooded up to the ceiling, we have water up to the waist on the second floor and the entire backyard is completely destroyed,” one resident told CHCH News.

Another resident said in his 20 years of living in the community, he has never seen anything like this.

“It’s really devastating,” Chris Way, a Burlington resident, said. “It’s not just a little flood, people’s houses are underwater — it’s not a flooded basement, these are TV rooms, kitchens — houses that completely need to be gutted.
Residents are asked to call the city at 905-335-7777 to report roadway flooding, fallen trees, or debris.

For any matters relating to private property flooding or sewer back ups, contact 3-1-1.

If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

[okala]

Yes people clear debris off your catch basins - the city does not do that..

[johnmartlew]

I grew up in Stoney Creek in the 50-60’s. I can imagine the creek along Cherrywood Drive, the street I lived on. Omg it was a frightening torrent in spring thaw. Stay safe everyone.

[tonyfulford]

Didn't the same thing happen a few years ago ? I remember a heavy rainfall causing lots of flooding in Burlington. Possibly 4 or 5 years ago ? The city needs to get their act together.

[truantray]

Well, we let development go ahead in North Burlington paving over wetlands and that water has to go somewhere. We have had hurricane rains in the past, but fields and wetlands now row housing and strip mall parking lots are gone.

Who pays for this? We all do with insurance premiums, assuming these areas will even be able to buy flood insurance in the future. And taxes will go way up to fund sewer infrastructure developers avoided.

[michaelpjeffries]

Expect the new normal, when governments pave & develop greenbelts which were created with purpose. Unlike the premiere.

[MusicAsWeMakeIt]

Sadly, most home insurance does not cover flooding over land.

[HighSierra]

I feel for these people! They are alive and their possessions can be replaced. However, Miller Waste Systems isn't going to be pleased with the impassible roads and the resulting garbage loads!

[tesselaynes]

so I guess the city needs to check their sewer system and why it didnt handle the water.

[MeMe-bstc]

Does home insurance cover this type of damage?

[GreatOvation]

Waterfront property is usually in demand 😮

[mazdarx]

Great job, build on low lying land in a flood plain

[joannwolf]

Welcome to Houston world. Now you know.

[chachifeere]

They were suppose to fix this problem ten years ago when we had that big flood

[AlexandreLemelin]

I thought kayaking down the street would be an opportunity of a lifetime. By the way, that's me kayaking

[Calers-guib]

I n the 60s the creeks always overflowed during heavy rains like this. People probably don't know their house is right next door to one of those creeks that the city buried.

[StuntDonk]

Don't ya wish they had Drone Delivery, don't ya

[Gryphyn]

Maybe if these cities stopped their frivilous spending on pet projects and giving themselves raises, and UPDATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE!!! Never seen anything like this? IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT RAINS!!! Such bad journalism!!

[adamhawley]

couldn't be geoengineering or climate change at all, nothing to see there.

[janet]

This is what Texas goes through with the hurricanes.

[hackman]

Get Trudeau out there with the sand bags