‘Curled up in balls,’ overwhelmed Burlington residents tell city staff the current standard for flood relief isn’t enough

Some residents affected by floods in Burlington say the city response just isn’t enough.

In a council session on Aug. 7, Burlington residents expressed their concerns surrounding the city’s response to the July 15 and 16 flash floods — and many were not happy. 

“She so desperately wanted to be here today — but judging from her last text — she is likely at home curled up in a ball, trying to figure out how her family is going to survive one more day with maxed-out credit cards and insurance, waiting for the region to provide her with information on available assistance,” said Anne Marsden while addressing council members, describing a neighbour dealing with flood expenses. 

According to data collected from the Halton Region from July, 1,288 Burlington homeowners have reported damage caused by the heavy rain and resulting floods that occurred July 15 and 16.

Marsden pointed out additional stressors impacting many Burlington residents dealing with flood damages, such as difficulties filing insurance claims, debt accrued from repairs and lack of communication on what city relief is available or when it will enter bank accounts. 

Beyond that, she stated that the council has a lump sum of readily available funds that can be used to help address these specific issues.

“We will be making the case to our two provincial MPPs to urgently propose to Doug Ford and his ministers that the money provided to fix Civic Square — and is instead sitting in the band — be transferred into a city 2024 disaster fund,” said Marsden when addressing council members. 

Other residents addressing the council indicated that while the two $1,000 relief funds set up between Halton Region and the city were a welcomed relief, neither has been designed to support the long-term damage flood waters create.

“Of course, $1,000 is important, and of course, building permits are important, however, most of us, who have had any hazardous waste in our basements, which I am dealing with at this time, have also been curled up in balls,” said Mary-Ellis St. James when addressing city staff. 

St. James further indicated to the council that while dealing with her insurance woes, the $1,000 worth of relief from the Halton Region remains in a limbo state and has not reached her after initial approval. 

“I have been speaking to this council for 10 years about flooding in Burlington, and while you have all been very reactive, no one has been proactive,” said St. James. 

In response, Paul Sherman, Councillor for Ward 5 in Burlington told St. James, ” Are you interested in having a workshop conducted by the region on all the matters you’ve just addressed?”

To which St. James agreed, however, at the time of publication no further information has been provided on the status of a city-sanctioned workshop to address long-term flood damages.

Burlington Mayor Marianne Mead Ward issued a statement earlier this week, indicating that the council will reconvene in October to draft a new purpose-built city budget to deal with flood-related emergencies.