Toronto Dodges D.V.P. Closure But Flood Warning Not Over
Posted November 16, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Drenching rains caused the Don River to rise rapidly overnight and into the morning, leading to fears low lying sections of the highway could be either impassable or too dangerous for traffic.
But o fficials decided it wasn’t necessary and didn’t pull the plug on the busy escape route.
After earlier hitting 13.5 metres – the flood threshold – water in the raging river lowered to under 13 metres, allowing the roadway to stay open.
The dilemma followed a day of intense rain caused by a disturbance that Environment Canada calls “a soaker”. It left most of Ontario a soggy mess.
By mid-afternoon, the city had already received 30 millimetres of precipitation, breaking a November 16th record of 24.2 set back in 1981.
More is on the way before it all ends Friday and the threat of floods continue.
And while drivers were trying to avoid the slick streets, pedestrians were trying to avoid the cars that were splashing them on the sidewalks.
A student named Sharonna knows what’s it’s like to be hit by a wave from a passing vehicle. “I don’t think it was on purpose,” she remarks. “Never attribute to malice what you can attribute to stupidity.”
But it wasn’t just motorists and pedestrians who were inconvenienced by the wall of wet. “The rain took all my business at the CN Tower,” complains employee Ashley Sleeth, “so I’m not impressed with that.”
Those tourists she didn’t get had their spirits dampened, too. “We’re going out tonight for a meal and we’re hoping not to get drenched,” relates Jeane Oram. She’s here from Britain, so she knows a thing or two about rain.
Still, some welcomed the downpour. Emergency roof repairman Tom Geo found the rain was like pennies from heaven.
“The phone’s are to be going crazy,” he responds as he puts a ladder up on a house. “They’ve been pretty busy today.”
Some areas up north are getting this same system in the form of snow – and their amounts could be even higher than ours.
“It has been a good soaking rain and perhaps not what a lot of people were hoping for,” admits Environment Canada’s Geoff Coulson. “It is a large well developed system moving up from the Texas and Oklahoma area.”
He points out we’re getting as much rain in just 36 hours as we normally do for the entire month of November.
The slippery roads caused several accidents, including a serious crash at Dufferin and College Sts. during the Thursday morning rush.
Police say a van and a car collided at about 7am. One woman involved in the accident had to remain in her vehicle until paramedics could safely remove her and take her to hospital. Her injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
The wild weather also caused headaches for City of Toronto road crews.
Workers at Keele St. and Glenlake Ave., north of Bloor St. had just finished patching up a sinkhole when the strong rains washed away their work. Crews took advantage of a pause in the precipitation to fill it in again.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has issued a high-water safety alert that will stay in effect until Saturday. Parents are cautioned to keep their children and pets away from fast-moving rivers, creeks and streams, which could flood without warning.
And city officials are recommending you brave the downpours to make sure your eavestroughs and sewer covers aren’t clogged with fallen leaves, an especially dangerous hazard at this time of year.
Water with nowhere to go will easily flood the streets – and possibly your basement.
The City of Toronto has a 24-hour hotline at (416) 338-8888 to report a blocked basement drain or sewer back-up on its property.
Motorists were warned to watch for flooded roads, particularly around the usual suspects like Bayview and Pottery Road.
Things will improve by Friday, but there will be a sharp and noticeable temperature drop from Thursday’s high of 13C. By Sunday, it could be a colder 3C – just in time for the Santa Claus Parade.
To check the latest forecast, click here.
To read Michael Kuss’s blog on the storm, click here.
Same storm brings death to U.S.
Here’s how the City suggests you guard against floods:
**Make sure your disconnected downspouts are draining properly, ideally 1.8 metres (six feet) from your basement walls
**Be sure the grading around your home drains water away from all exterior walls
**Check for and fix leaks in basement walls, floors, windows and foundations
**Clear eavestroughs and downspouts of leaves and other debris preventing proper drainage
**Repair or replace damaged weeping tile systems
**Rake leaves away from sewer catch basins and other outside drains
**Have a plumber or drain company inspect your home’s flood-proofing devices, including back-water valves, sump pumps, floor drains or caps, to ensure they’re working properly
**Don’t pour grease down drains or flush food or other objects down toilets as this will block sewer connections causing sewers to backup during rain storms
**Consider soft-surface landscaping that allows storm water to soak into the ground rather than run directly into the local sewer systems, such as increased sodded areas and porous pavement.
**Ensure your flood insurance is up to date
**Call your insurance company as soon as possible to report property damage caused by flooding
**Be aware of the dangers when cleaning up a flooded basement. Don’t stand in flood water and call a professional for assistance.
