Burlington asking province for flooding funding

(Update)
Ten days after an unprecedented storm drenched parts of Burlington — the city is asking the province for emergency funding for flood relief. City council passed a motion asking the government to declare Burlington a disaster area — and grant access to the province’s relief fund.

Crystal Campbell: “The fridge was here.”

A year and a half ago, Crystal Campbell spent 45 thousand dollars building a basement apartment for herself and her autistic son Casey, in her mom’s home on Bridle Wood Drive: “My plan was that this would be my home with my son. And then, the night of the flood, we just watched it.”

During last week’s torrential downpour, over a foot of sewage spewed up through the drain, destroying every room. Casey’s autism makes it hard for him to cope: “He’s not sleeping, he’s not eating. He keeps saying, I want to go home. I want to go home.”

This is Crystal’s first flood. Her 15-thousand dollar insurance maximum won’t begin to cover the damage.

This house on the corner has flooded four times in just two years. This time, so badly that the basement floor buckled. It’s being looked at by structural engineers to see if it’s even safe to live in.

To help residents whose damage far exceeds their coverage, the city of Burlington has requested funding from the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.

Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon: “I can’t see why Burlington wouldn’t be a very considerable candidate for this kind of support.”

Red Cross officials are assessing homes to determine total cost for repairs across the city.

Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring: “We’re gonna know the number. I’m hoping in two or three days and that will be really a launching point to get more interest in this particular issue.”

If the province declares Burlington a disaster area, they will provide two dollars for every one raised by the United Way.

That money would help residents shoulder the cost of repairs.

Burlington council is especially concerned about residents whose homes have flooded repeatedly.

Maui Groff, flood victim: “Sixth sewer backup on August fourth. And what are we to do?”

Michelle Perrone-Bonavita, flood victim: “It is not our responsibility to keep backup sewage out of our own homes.”

Repeat flood victims are angry, but grateful that if nothing else, this latest flood has spurred action on Burlington’s infrastructure.