City’s Emergency Response to West End Flooding

Environment Canada forecasted approximately 6 mm of rain while more than 100 mm fell on areas of Ottawa on July 24, 2009. The inflow of water into sanitary sewers led to basement flooding and washed out streets and culverts.

Key findings

• During the intense rainfall period, City crews initiated road closures, repaired washed out culverts and cleaned blocked catch basins. Staff was in the field to monitor critical manholes, deploy pumps, monitor grills and respond to pumping station alarms.
• Senior staff and emergency management personnel lacked full awareness on the scope and complexity of flooding problems. This lack of awareness led to delays in initiating a fully integrated response.
• Existing emergency plans and procedures are adequate and should have prompted further escalation and led to a City-wide coordinated effort.
• An external third party has been engaged to review the City’s emergency response.

What worked well

• Ability to respond to residents’ requests for home inspections and to repair infrastructure such as washed out culverts and pumping station surcharges.
• Response to requests from the media for information and interviews.
• The Emergency Reception Centre at the Kanata Recreation Complex received 40 visits from residents inquiring about City services, financial assistance, insurance claims, and alternative housing.
• City staff from emergency services, public works, and infrastructure services visited over 980 homes to investigate flood damage, address health and safety concerns and provide information.
• Public Health nurses and inspectors visited over 1000 homes and addressed residents’ health concerns.
• First Response Staff from water and wastewater attended to flooded homes and began a two-week investigation into what caused the flooding immediately.

Recommendations

• Develop Joint Assessment Teams for civic emergencies with daily reporting from all operational units to senior management and other key staff.
• Routinely test and validate emergency operations procedures, protocols and tools.
• Ensure the Mayor and Members of Council are informed and involved in emergency management planning.
• Hold media briefings early on during emergencies to ensure the public and media are advised of the extent of the event and the City’s response, and ensure information is available to residents in multiple formats.

Next steps

• Staff will report on recommendations from the flooding investigation to the Community and Protective Services committee later this year.