Mayor Marianne Meed Ward’s statement on flooding
*Please see below a Statement from Mayor Meed Ward, as well as links to:
Office of the MayorBurlington, Ont. — July 16, 2024 — We understand many of you have questions and concerns about the recent flooding events that occurred this week and the uncertainty it brings.
My own home and property have been impacted by the flooding, so I empathize deeply with the distress this situation has caused and the questions surrounding where we go from here.The City is currently in a Level 2 Emergency. 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.
In our meeting today, Council requested an update from staff on the flood and actions being taken. Council also requested staff provide scheduled updates to the public in the coming days. We also unanimously called for a Council meeting which has been scheduled for Friday, July 19 at 9:30 a.m. so that Council and the community can get a status update on the City’s emergency response, resources available to them and further information on the City’s next steps. The live stream will be available at events.burlington.ca/meetings.
Please continue to report any damage, blocked waterways, debris, etc., to the City so we can respond as effectively as possible.
Who to Call
Flooding on City property is the responsibility of the City. Report flooding on roadways, fallen trees, or debris by calling 905-335-7777 or email city@burlington.ca.
If you have flooding on private property, or to report sewer back-ups please call 3-1-1 for Halton Region response.
If you’re in immediate danger, call 911
Many of you have asked about our investment in infrastructure. After the 2014 flood, the City invested an additional $20 million in stormwater management. We know it’s made a difference in our ability to respond to storm events. Council remains committed to asset and infrastructure management, consistently increasing our investment in these areas with each budget cycle, including the forthcoming 2025 Mayor’s budget. We also know that the impacts of climate change result in warmer, wetter and wilder weather, and the storms we’re seeing are part of that. City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and the City has developed plans to ensure we continue to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
I want to thank our staff at the City of Burlington and the Region of Halton who have been working tirelessly to address the situation. They have been coordinating efforts to manage flooded roads, providing assistance to affected households, and ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in our community.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience during this difficult period.Sincerely,Mayor Marianne Meed WardCity of Burlington