Most residents return after flooding forces evacuation of about 100 Brampton homes
Six homes remain without power or running water after severe flooding forced the evacuation of about 100 homes on Thursday, says the city’s fire chief.
Fire Chief Bill Boyes said residents in the Churchville neighbourhood were forced to leave their homes, with some having to be rescued by boat because the water was so deep, he said.
“It was really a dangerous situation that came on so fast,” he said. “We were very fortunate that we were able to get all of the residents out and that nobody was hurt.”
There have been no injuries to residents or firefighters, Boyes said.
As for when the remaining residents can return to their homes, he said it’s too soon to tell.
Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton, said the water was a metre and a half deep in some areas on Thursday. As of Friday afternoon, the deepest spots outside of the floodplain are 0.3 metres deep, he said.
“The good news is that the water is receding,” Brown said.
The flooding was caused an ice jam at a 90-degree “elbow” of the Credit River, said Michael Parks, director of roads maintenance and operations with the City of Brampton.
Because the Churchville area is lower lying than surrounding areas, some flooding happens every spring. But rarely is it this serious, he added.
“It’s probably been 10 years since we’ve had something as severe as this,” Parks said.
He said heavy rain and warmer temperatures this week contributed to the flood.
The cause of the flooding appears to be from “ice damming” at the “elbow” in the river south of the one lane bridge.
Water has receded slightly since its highest level yesterday and is being monitored. pic.twitter.com/3RWfyzQF8G
CVC staff are on site monitoring an ice jam at Churchville @CityBrampton
For your safety, please stay away from all watercourses. Learn about who to contact in an emergency and how we’re monitoring waterways here: https://t.co/wnJy6MMJyB pic.twitter.com/7MvSmu81Wh
