2024 FRESHET INFORMATION
FLOOD OUTLOOK STATMENT IN EFFECT
current forecasted high 1 in 5 year
Similar to values seen in 2024
2020 RIVER UPDATE
Wednesday May 6, 2020
There is no flood risk from the 2020 spring freshet; ORRPB has forecast that runoff due to snowmelt and the April 30th precipitation event has peaked in the northern and central portions of the basin. The level along Lac Deschene’s/Constance Bay peaked at 59.20m today and is expected to begin declining toward summer levels on Friday.
Other things aside, the 2020 freshet has been very routine; March started out warm with about 130% of average snow bringing us a routine first peak of 59.59m, 30th overall, that came a little earlier than usual on April 10. A dry and cool April stretched out the run-off season bringing today’s very average second peak of 59.20m, 53rd overall.
The recorded “April 4 Public Meeting” presentation that ORRPB made for West Carleton is now available on youtube. To make the material more digestible it has been split into one 21 minute video discussing the factors that can and can’t contribute to spring flooding here ( https://youtu.be/vbuZYSmfsfQ ) and a 49 minute presentation on the operation of the reservoirs & dams, including Cabonga and Chats Falls (https://youtu.be/Gf79FT-zhV8 ).
While there are many around the world who are suffering amidst this outbreak, we want to take a moment to acknowledge that here, in West Carleton this is now the fourth major incident affecting our communities in the past 3 years.
From all indications, this will likely affect quite a number of our community members over the course of the pandemic.
This outbreak is compounding the stress and anxiety that you and your neighbours are already feeling. Many of our residents continue to struggle with their repairs or rebuilds from the floods or the tornado and others are worried about the upcoming threat of high water.
Please remember that we are all in this together. We are now all experts at stepping up and helping each other, we will need these amazing community support skills in the coming weeks.
Volunteers from WCDR will continue to work on helping families who are struggling with past disasters while keeping our eye on the water levels. Please note that we are looking into alternative ways to host our April 4th meeting and we will keep you all informed as we move forward with our plans.
Visit the West Carleton Food Access Centre is you are in need of food and supplies during this period of social distancing.
Your emotional health:
West Ottawa Community Resource Centre are available for local & group counselling for survivors: call 613-591-3686 and ask to speak to a tornado counsellor or visit the drop-in at the WC Community Complex, across from Eli's Office, 9 to 3 on Fridays and from 9 to 12 on Saturdays.
Food: West Carleton Food Access Centre: 613-832-5685 / wcfoodaid@gmail.com, please call or email Mary for anything you need and to arrange a pick up time.
Household items & services: Disaster Ottawa – Household Item Exchange (FB) (this is the place for people to post any furniture etc. they would like to donate,
Clothing: Savvy Seconds, 5670 Carp Road: 613-240-8644 / vljones@ymail.com, please email Vera for anything you need.
Red Cross: Providing financial assistance for people “struggling in a variety of ways. The funding raised for the families affected by the 2018 Tornado has now been spent or allocated. There will be no further individual payments made.
Insurance Issues: Insurance Bureau of Canada:
· Questions & Complaints; 1-844-227-5422
· Advocacy, to work on your behalf; Pete Karageorgos, Director Consumer & Industry Relations 416-362-2031 / pkarageorgos@ibc.ca
Councillor; Kelly's: 613-580-2475 / Clark.Kelly@ottawa.ca
Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarian's (DRAO): 1-844-780-8925 (Not Currently Available)
Property Tax refunds/deferrals: taxadjustments@ottawa.ca
HST REBATE (for new or substantially renovated homes): https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency
Tree Removal: WCDR crews, cranes, and other equipment are available to remove broken and hung up trees. The service has wrapped up for the winter but will resume in the spring:
Storage: WCDR will make storage containers and storage units at Blue Moon available to protect uninsured property: westcarletonrelief@gmail.com. We encourage residents to contact WCDR for assistance in relocating any unattended PODs still in the village to a more secure & monitored location.
Utilities:
Bell - please call the special Tornado assistance line; 1-877-491-4844
Enbridge Gas - 613-748-6890
Electrical Safety Authority - 1-877-372-7233 / esasafe.com
Hydro One - 613-748-6890 / customercommunications@hydroone.com / hydroone.com
For disaster evacuation plan/checklist
Special considerations for people with disabilities or others requiring assistance
-
Consider how you may be affected in a power outage, including:
-
Your evacuation route — without elevator service (if applicable)
-
Planning for a backup power supply for essential medical equipment
-
Keeping a flashlight and a cell phone handy to signal for help
-
Establishing a self-help network to assist and check on you during an emergency
-
Enrolling in a medical alert program that will signal for help if you are immobilized
-
Keeping a list of facilities that provide life-sustaining equipment or treatment
-
Keeping a list of medical conditions and treatment
-
If you live in an apartment, advise the property management that you may need assistance staying in your apartment or that you must be evacuated if there is a power outage. This will allow the property manager to plan and make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.
Residents struggle with their repairs and rebuilds.
Your continued support is very important. Due to Covid-19 many projects have seen many delays and funding shortages.
We are continuing to work with our most vulnerable families to support them. Your donations will help these families ensure that their rebuild and major repairs can be are completed 2022.
On September 21, 2018, a tornado left a 20 km trail of destruction across the former township of West Carleton, completely destroying many homes, farms and businesses in Dunrobin & Kinburn. From the efforts of volunteers, WCDR emerged to bring community association, volunteers & our local NGOs together to support the survivors and build a disaster-resilient community.
West Carleton is unique in so many ways, not least being the ability to effectively come together to respond to disaster. We have had more than our share of major disasters to responded to in recent years. Durning the Ottawa River flooding in 2017, board members of West Carleton Disaster Relief stepped up to lead the volunteer response and recovery. As residents of the 2017 flooding were still recovering from flooding, West Carleton again faced disaster, 2018 Tornado. WCDR was then formalized to bring together volunteers and community associations to support the recovery for
COVID-19
Let's keep up the good work!
Keeping Covid numbers low in West Carleton is all of our responsibility. Please visit these links for more information.
If you continue to need support visit
Important
Links
Volunteer Today
Contact Us and join the team of volunteers helping our neighbours in times of need
Please give today to help prepare our community for disasters and help your neighbours when one strikes
Preparedness, Response, Restoration & Recovery
Thank you for your support!