Money available to help residents recover from historic summer floods in Mississauga

Starting this week, Mississauga residents whose homes suffered significant water damage during historic summer flooding can apply for a one-time $1,000 payment to help cover costs.

The cash is being made available through the City of Mississauga’s Residential Compassionate Flood Relief Grant program, part of a larger plan approved by city council in September that includes measures to provide both immediate relief and long-term solutions to help lessen the impact of devastating storms.

The $1,000 grant is available to Mississauga residential property owners and tenants — not businesses/corporations — who suffered basement flooding damage during severe rainstorms on July 16 and/or Aug. 17 and 18.

City officials say residents can only apply for the grant once, “even if they own more than one eligible property or experienced flooding on more than one day.”

The city said earlier that during both major summer storms, “the rainfall exceeded the 100-year storm level, which historically has a very low chance (about one per cent) of happening in any given year. This initiative aims to provide financial relief to property owners hardest hit by the summer floods.”

In addition, the city is also offering rebates of up to $6,800 for eligible flood prevention measures, “making it easier for property owners to protect their properties from future flooding,” the city said earlier.

Residents can apply for the $1,000 flood relief grant starting Dec. 1 while the rebate money will be available starting in February.

Those seeking the one-time grant must complete a grant application and submit proof of eligibility, including proof of ownership or residence and proof of flooding, the city said in a news release on Monday.

Residents may also submit applications by mail (see link above).

For more information about the grant, use the above link or call 311, the city’s information line.

Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2025.

In February, the city will launch two additional rebate programs:

• Basement Flooding Prevention Rebate Program — will provide rebates up to $6,800 for eligible flood prevention improvements
• Flood Resilience Rebate Program — will provide rebates of 50 per cent of the invoiced cost up to a maximum of $3,000 to cover costs associated with eligible measures taken to make improvements to your home to minimize flooding impact

The Region of Peel is also offering money for those looking to protect their homes from flooding in the future.

The Region of Peel Sanitary Backwater Valve Rebate provides $1,500 for eligible homeowners to cover the cost of installing a sanitary backwater valve to reduce basement flooding due to sanitary backups of wastewater from the sanitary sewer.

City’s $7-billion stormwater system needs constant care

Officials say Mississauga’s $7-billion stormwater drainage system needs constant maintenance. The system is comprised of more than 51,000 storm drains, 1,900 kilometres of storm sewer pipes, 270 kilometres of ditches, 150 kilometres of creeks and 80 stormwater management facilities.

“Staff continue to assess and prioritize the most effective improvements to this aging infrastructure,” officials said. “Installing stormwater infrastructure requires a large investment up front and it is expensive, but important to maintain.”

Mississauga officials said earlier in the fall that “while the city’s current infrastructure helped reduce damage (during the summer floods), the increasing number and intensity of these storms are challenging these systems. The city is investing in upgrading its infrastructure, including the stormwater system, to protect property, ensure public safety and make Mississauga more resilient to climate change. But the city cannot do it alone; funding is needed from other levels of government.”

City officials added they plan to aggressively push upper levels of government for cash to allow for infrastructure upgrades in Mississauga.

In the first of the two historic rainstorms that hit Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area, an Environment and Climate Change Canada weather station at Pearson Airport recorded 122.9 mm of rain between late evening July 15 and early during the day on July 16.

It was the most rain received in any one area across southern Ontario during the storm.

(Photos: City of Mississauga)