Money coming for residents to help recover from historic summer floods in Mississauga

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

The cash will come from the City of Mississauga and is part of a larger plan approved on Wednesday by city council that includes measures to provide both immediate relief and long-term solutions to help lessen the impact of devastating storms.

The $1,000 payment, termed a Residential Compassionate Flood Relief Grant, is available to Mississauga residential property owners who suffered basement flooding damage during severe rainstorms on July 16 and/or Aug. 17 and 18.

“In both cases, 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,” city officials said in a news release. “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.

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

Mississauga experienced widespread flooding as a result of record-breaking rainstorms on July 16 and again on Aug. 17 and 18. And city officials add such extreme weather will be much more common in the years ahead.

“While the city’s current infrastructure helped reduce damage, the increasing number and intensity of these storms are challenging these systems,” Mississauga officials said. “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.

“Mississauga’s past investment in stormwater management facilities, drainage networks and other infrastructure functioned as designed and reduced what could have been more widespread flooding. However, the unprecedented rainfall in July and August demonstrates how more investment is required to further control flood waters and meet the demands of a changing climate,” the city stated.

Mississauga’s aging stormwater drainage system, valued at more than $7 billion, requires constant care in order to perform at its highest level, officials note.

Mayor Carolyn Parrish said the devastating summer storms were “a wake-up call,” adding the city “must prioritize ongoing upgrades and new investments to ensure Mississauga can continue to protect its residents and businesses from extreme weather.”

She echoed the call of senior staff for additional — and significant — funding from sources outside Canada’s seventh-largest city.

“While Mississauga is doing its part, we need help from other levels of government to address this growing challenge. We cannot do it on our own and Mississauga deserves its fair share of funding,” said Parrish. “The grants and financial relief programs we are introducing are crucial first steps, but sustained support and collaboration are essential to build a resilient future.”

The plan approved this week also calls for fast-tracking existing infrastructure projects and introducing a number of new long-term measures to protect Mississauga.

Among the initiatives:

• review flooding concerns in north Streetsville
• design storm sewer upgrades for Historic Malton Village
• accelerate completion by six years of the Dixie-Dundas Flood Mitigation Project

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.