Burlington cleaning up from flooding due to rainstorm
Posted August 5, 2014 1:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The massive cleanup continues in Burlington after heavy rain flooded roads and homes on Monday night, prompting highway closures and dozens of calls to police.
The storm dumped around two months of rain between three to four hours. Environment Canada estimates between 100-150 millimetres of rain fell in the area.
Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring said it was the worst flooding in 20-30 years.
He said areas east of Guelph line were the hardest hit, with severe road erosion, especially New Street, which was also affected during the December 2013 ice storm.
Goldring also said the city received 2,200 calls to 311 on Monday night.
He also said between 230-240 homes, likely more, were also flooded, with some residents reported around five to six feet of water accumulation. The mayor said his home was also flooded.
Residents, including Mayor Goldring, also reported flooding in their basements, with some reporting up to 1.8 metres in water accumulation.
Section of highways were closed
Sections of the Queen Elizabeth Way and Highway 407 closed after being plunged underwater, with some motorists abandoning their vehicles in the water-logged streets.
The 407 was closed both ways from Highway 403 to Appleby Line, but has since reopened.
The eastbound lanes of the QEW had also closed after flooding at Guelph Line, and the westbound lanes of the QEW west of Appleby had also flooded.
Some drivers in the area said the water level was to their vehicles’ door handle in some spots.
The flooding also caused service adjustments to GO Transit, while parts of south Burlington also experienced heavy flooding.
No injuries were reported as a result of the heavy rainfall.
Burlington could be seeing more wet weather on Tuesday, with a chance of showers and a risk of thunderstorms in the forecast.
On his official Twitter account, Mayor Rob Ford noted “isolated” flooding in Toronto.
With files from Keeley Rogers
