Many homes in Burlington were inundated with water following back-to-back days of heavy rain, which has elevated the city’s state of emergency.

“The City is currently in a Level 2 Emergency,” Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said on Tuesday.

“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.”

The flooding has left some residents scrambling to find temporary shelter as area roads close and overwhelmed culverts spill water into the streets and homes of many.

“Downstairs is flooded up to the ceiling, we have water up to the waist on the second floor and the entire backyard is completely destroyed,” one resident told CHCH News.

Another resident said in his 20 years of living in the community, he has never seen anything like this.

“It’s really devastating,” Chris Way, a Burlington resident, said.  “It’s not just a little flood, people’s houses are underwater — it’s not a flooded basement, these are TV rooms, kitchens — houses that completely need to be gutted.

Residents are asked to call the city at 905-335-7777 to report roadway flooding, fallen trees, or debris.

For any matters relating to private property flooding or sewer back ups, contact 3-1-1.

If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.