Burlington continues cleanup

A week after a devastating storm dropped a month’s worth of rain in a couple of hours, thousands of Burlington homeowners are still cleaning up and trying to get back to some semblance of a normal life.

So far, 18-hundred homes have reported flooding, and the region has a team of 60 people visiting all those homes. Of those, 1,450 homes so far have been approved for a thousand-dollar rebate from the region for sewage backup — meant to at least help people with the deductible and insurance. But from what we’ve seen, a lot of people need a lot more help than that.

Many flood victims are still not in their homes. The lingering stench of sewage making them take cover in hotels. Others are still home, and trying to cope with their new reality.

Christine Hansen-Alexander is a local resident: “I have an autistic child, and her bedroom was in the basement and she’s had to move upstairs, and even in the best of times it’s difficult with her, but a situation like this is really hard.”

A week after the flood, residents on Geneva Park Drive here in Burlington are really dealing with grief for all the things they now realize they’ve lost. But they’re also dealing with fear — especially with big dark clouds still hanging over the neighbourhood.”

“Scary. Nerve-wracking. I think we’re all nervous. Every time it rains or calls for rain we’re going to be on pins and needles.”

The sewage system was overwhelmed by the record-breaking rain, and the extra water from thousands of pre-1975 homes that don’t have separate pipes for wastewater and sewage. Halton region will pay half the cost to fix that problem to avoid future flooding — and since this disaster, about 900 residents have signed up. This week, Burlington will ask the province for more help. The Red Cross is canvassing flood victims to find out how much money is needed.

Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring: “I’ve spoken to at least half a dozen if not a dozen people that suffered at least $100,000 in uninsured damages. So we need to find out the magnitude of everyone else that’s been affected.”

The city has raised about a hundred thousand dollars so far through a United Way fund, and it has partnered with Samaritan’s Purse, which is rounding up volunteers to offer free labour.

Steve Elliott, Samaritan’s Purse: “We’ll mainly be focusing on mud out and gut out of basements. Maybe they don’t have insurance, or they’re elderly, physically challenged, single moms that have lost everything.”

Halton Region is now offering a one-time Basement Flood Prevention Subsidy, up to a maximum of $2,725.00, to assist residents who have a history of basement floods caused by a backup or surcharge of the sanitary sewer system or residents who have not experienced flooding but would like to correct improper storm water connections and install a backwater valve.

To find out how to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse or donate to the United Way fund set up for this flood relief, just click on the links indicated.

And here is the City of Burlington website with more information about the cleanup and additional garbage pickups.