Introduction: The Growing Threat of Flooding in Burlington
Burlington faces an escalating challenge: the increasing risk of flooding. Climate change brings more frequent and intense weather events, which means our community must prepare for more than just the occasional heavy rainfall. It is time to recognize that flooding is not an anomaly; it is becoming a recurrent issue that requires proactive measures and community-wide participation.
- Focus on prevention: Shifting from reaction to prevention will help mitigate damage before it occurs.
- Community awareness: Understanding the specific vulnerabilities of our neighbourhoods is key.
- Action: The city is implementing programs, but individual action and awareness is also needed.
This is not about merely recovering after a disaster; it is about building resilience that will protect our homes and businesses. Every resident plays a role in this effort. We must face the reality of increased flood risk by working together to implement solutions.
Understanding the Recent Floods of July 2024: What Happened?
The floods of July 15 and 16, 2024, are now etched into the memory of many Burlington residents. These were not isolated incidents; they were a stark reminder of how quickly weather patterns can affect our daily lives. The flooding, caused by unusually heavy rainfall, impacted several areas across the city, with some neighbourhoods along creeks bearing the brunt of the damage.
- Specific areas affected: Parts of the City of Burlington, particularly along Cavendish Drive, Headon Road, Tyandaga Park Drive, and Willowbrook Road, as well as the community of Norval experienced significant flooding. Also, the Little Etobicoke Creek area was affected by flooding in both July and August.
- Impact: Homes and businesses experienced damage from both overland and sewer backup flooding.
- Community response: Many residents filed claims for flood damage.
These events underscored the vulnerability of specific areas and the need for increased flood prevention and support efforts. The City and the community are now working on solutions to reduce the impact of future events.
Provincial Support: The Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) Program
The Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program offers a path to recovery for those affected by the July 2024 floods. This provincial program is activated when a natural disaster causes widespread damage, and it provides financial help to eligible residents. The DRAO program is not a replacement for insurance; it is intended to help with essential costs not covered by existing policies.
- Activation areas: DRAO has been activated in specific areas of Burlington, including Cavendish Drive, Headon Road, Tyandaga Park Drive, and Willowbrook Road and the community of Norval. The Little Etobicoke Creek area also qualifies due to flooding in both July and August.
- Eligible costs: The program covers costs related to cleanup, repair or replacement of essential property, and basic emergency expenses such as evacuation travel.
- Program limits: There are limits to the amount of financial assistance, with a maximum of $250,000 per application and a $500 deductible, although this deductible may be waived for low-income households. The program reimburses up to 90% of eligible costs, but it is essential to understand that the program is intended to meet basic needs only.
- Application deadline: The deadline to apply for DRAO is March 31, 2025.
Residents within the activation areas should review the program guidelines to determine their eligibility.
City of Burlington Flood Recovery Grants: Immediate Relief for Residents
The City of Burlington offers a Flood Relief Grant as an additional layer of support for residents affected by the July 2024 floods. This grant provides immediate financial help to address costs that insurance might not cover. Unlike the provincial DRAO program, this grant focuses on aiding with insurance deductibles or other flood-related expenses not covered by insurance policies. It's important to note that this grant is specifically for in-home flood damage only and is not for exterior damage.
- Purpose: The $1,000 grant helps with insurance deductibles or other uncovered in-house flood-related expenses.
- Eligibility: The grant is available to homeowners or tenants who experienced in-house flooding due to the July 15/16 weather event and reported it to 311. The water damage must not be from a wastewater system blockage or sewer surcharge.
- Exclusions: Damage to landscaping, pools, and decks is not eligible for this grant.
- Application Deadline: To arrange an inspection, residents must call 311 by 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024.
This grant offers a more accessible option for immediate relief while the larger claims are being processed with the DRAO program.
City of Burlington Building Permit/Zoning Certificate Fee Flood Relief Program: Easing the Renovation Process
The City of Burlington’s Building Permit/Zoning Certificate Fee Flood Relief Program aims to ease the financial strain of post-flood renovations. This program directly addresses the costs associated with obtaining the necessary permits for homeowners undertaking repairs after the July 2024 floods. It is designed to remove some of the bureaucratic barriers that homeowners may encounter while trying to restore their homes.
- Purpose: The program covers the costs of building permit and zoning certificate fees for interior renovations caused by flood damage from the July 15 and 16 weather events.
- Eligibility: To qualify, homeowners must have reported the flooding to Halton Region at 311. They must also either not have home insurance coverage or have had their insurance claim denied. Renovations must also be like-for-like replacements, not improvements.
- Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024.
This program provides targeted relief by reducing the costs of the required administrative processes, thereby assisting residents in a more direct manner.
Home Flood Protection Program: Proactive Measures by the City of Burlington
The City of Burlington's Home Flood Protection Program emphasizes a forward-thinking approach to flood management. Rather than just reacting to flood events, this program empowers homeowners to take proactive steps to protect their properties. The program's focus is on prevention through detailed assessments that identify potential vulnerabilities before flooding occurs. This is not about quick fixes, but about understanding the specific risks of your home and taking informed actions to minimize those risks.
- Purpose: The program helps homeowners identify ways to reduce their risk of basement flooding and minimize damage if flooding occurs.
- Assessments: The program provides homeowners with up to 50% of the cost of a Home Flood Protection Assessment. These assessments are conducted by trained third-party assessors either in-person or virtually, based on homeowner preference.
- Proactive Approach: The assessments aim to identify potential entry points for water or sewage, enabling homeowners to take preventative action.
By investing in these assessments, homeowners can take control of their risk and the city is demonstrating a dedication to long term solutions, not just short term fixes.
Halton Region's Enhanced Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy Program: Regional Support for Homeowners
Halton Region’s Enhanced Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy Program offers financial incentives to homeowners who take proactive steps to reduce flood risks. This program recognizes that preventing stormwater from entering the wastewater system is a crucial part of community-wide flood management, and that homeowners play a key role in that effort. The program focuses on making flood prevention improvements more accessible by offsetting a portion of the costs. This isn't just about individual homes, but about safeguarding the entire region's infrastructure and preventing future costly damages.
Purpose: This program offers financial support for home improvements that prevent stormwater from entering the wastewater system, thus reducing the risk of sewer backup and flooding.
Available Subsidies: The program includes several subsidies:
- Backwater valve installation: 50% of eligible costs up to $675.
- Downspout disconnection: 100% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $500.
- Weeping tile disconnection and sump pump installation: 100% of combined costs up to $5,000.
- Sewer lateral (pipe) lining and repair: 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $2,000.
By using these subsidies, residents become active partners in preventing future flooding events in their neighbourhood.
Understanding the Municipal and Regional Roles in Flood Management
Effective flood management requires a coordinated approach, with the City of Burlington and Halton Region each playing distinct, but interconnected roles. The City focuses on local infrastructure and immediate responses, while the Region handles broader systems and long-term planning. This partnership ensures that flood risks are addressed on multiple levels, creating a more resilient community. This coordinated effort is essential because a flood event can quickly overwhelm local resources, necessitating a regional approach.
- City of Burlington Responsibilities: The City manages local stormwater systems, addresses issues such as blocked culverts and catch basins, and handles immediate concerns such as fallen trees and debris on roads. The City can be reached at 905-335-7777 or by email at city@burlington.ca.
- Halton Region Responsibilities: The Region focuses on broader infrastructure, including the wastewater system and offers subsidies for home improvements aimed at flood prevention. Report in-house flooding to Halton Region by calling 311 or by email at accesshalton@halton.ca.
By understanding how each level of government contributes to flood management, residents can engage the correct authority for a faster response.
How Residents Can Help: Practical Steps for Flood Prevention
Protecting your property from flooding isn’t just the responsibility of the city or region; homeowners must take an active role in preventing flood damage. By understanding both the immediate safety steps to take during a flood and the long-term measures to prevent one, residents become vital participants in community-wide flood resilience. This goes past passive reliance on external support, and toward empowering homeowners to become first responders to their own property.
- Immediate Safety: If there is immediate danger, dial 9-1-1. If you have a flooded basement, take health and safety precautions, and call Halton Region at 3-1-1.
- Proactive Steps: Utilize programs such as the City of Burlington’s Home Flood Protection Program and Halton Region’s Enhanced Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy Program to find and fix vulnerabilities.
- Reporting: Report flooding to Halton Region by calling 311. Contact the City of Burlington for issues like blocked culverts, fallen trees or debris.
Taking these steps will increase a homeowner’s control over their property’s vulnerability to flooding, and contribute to the safety of the whole community.
Looking Ahead: Burlington's Commitment to Flood Resilience
In conclusion, the City of Burlington is not simply addressing the current flood situation; it is actively building long-term flood resilience into its infrastructure and community support systems. The city’s commitment goes past immediate relief efforts, focusing on proactive investments and ongoing support to create a community less susceptible to the effects of severe weather. This focus on long-term solutions is crucial because flood events are becoming more frequent, which requires a sustained effort.
- Infrastructure Investment: The 2025 budget includes $5.2 million dedicated to stormwater management infrastructure projects in high-priority areas. This proactive approach is designed to reduce flood risks by upgrading existing systems.
- Community Support Programs: The city will continue to provide programs such as the Home Flood Protection Program and the Plumbing Permit Fee Grant Program, which are designed to help residents take personal responsibility for flood preparedness.
- Budget Transparency: To find out more information about the 2025 budget visit www.burlington.ca/budget or www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/2025budget.
These investments and ongoing support programs demonstrate the city's dedication to creating a more resilient future for all residents in Burlington.
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This blog post has utilized information and resources available on the City of Burlington's official website (www.burlington.ca) to provide accurate and up-to-date details regarding development projects, planning processes, and policies.
