Aftermath of Burlington flood: What you need to know

Published July 17, 2024 at 11:03 am

Ontario, Burlington, City Council, floods, grant, fee

A home in Burlington shows flood damage.

A Burlington city councillor is urging residents affected by the flood to contact the appropriate agencies and report the damage.

Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman says it is essential for homeowners to document the damage, especially with Halton Region.

“It is crucial that you register your flooding incident with Halton Region by calling 311. This helps in assessing the overall impact and planning necessary responses,” Sharman wrote in a newsletter sent to residents of his ward last night (July 16).

The number to call is 311.

He said even though the region is experiencing high call volumes, it is important to stay on the line.

“Halton Region Public Works staff are working as quickly as possible to review the property history, discuss the situation with the property owner, and continue follow-up as required,” he said.

Depending on the flooding circumstances, homeowners may qualify for some financial relief from the region.

According to Halton’s website, you may qualify if, after an investigation, it is determined that the wastewater backup was the result of a sewer surcharge, or a blockage occurred on the municipal side of the wastewater system. Residents are responsible for any issue on their side of the property line.

A grant of $1,000 is available for those who qualify to help residents either offset the cost of an insurance deductible or help with flood-related costs that are not otherwise covered under their home insurance policy.

Residents who sustain property damage from blockages that occur on the private side of the wastewater system and/or blockages that are the result of objects in the drain that originate from the building or private side of the wastewater sewer system are not eligible for the grant.

Sharman said Burlington has experienced flooding before.

“This is highly reminiscent of what happened in 2014, when we learned a lot about how to respond to this situation,” he said. “Indeed, we also took a series of very costly steps to reduce future impacts of such deluges. Unfortunately, we were unable to eliminate all risk of flooding as we found out yesterday.”

He continued by saying it is important for flood information to be recorded so that local authorities can learn more to take future preventative steps.

While Halton Region is connected to basement flooding, the City of Burlington can be contacted to report downed trees or branches, road debris, and blocked catch basins. Service Burlington can be reached through 905-335-7777 or [email protected]. If you experienced flooding by way of windows/ doors, please also contact Service Burlington.

Sharman provides further information:

• If you or someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• If water has risen above electrical outlets or water is near electrical panels, consider shutting off your hydro. Contact your local hydro company and/or an electrician, if necessary. Note: This would affect the operation of a sump pump or sewage ejector.
• If you detect gas, leave the house immediately and contact your gas provider. Water can extinguish a pilot light on a gas appliance, but gas may continue to run.
• Do not use toilets or sinks until the source of the backup is known. This will help prevent more wastewater from entering your home.
• Do not consume potentially contaminated food.