Orléans residents included in city’s flood relief plan

The city could be offering $1,000 to those with homes flooded three times within a 15 year period, among other stipulations.

The motion, passed by the planning and environment committee last week, was brought forward by Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson in response to the July 24 flooding in the Glen Cairn neighbourhood; however, residents anywhere in the city who meet the criteria might now benefit from the program.

The inclusion of all Ottawans is welcome news to Orléans Coun. Bob Monette, who indicated he didn’t support the first motion because it didn’t include the east end. The west, after all, is not the only section of the city to experience multiple flood-related problems.

On the evening of July 3, 2006, a severe storm dumped up to 140 mm of rain in some east-end neighbourhods in less than two hours, flooding at least 840 homes. A month later, when hundreds of residents were attending a public meeting to discuss flooding concerns, another storm flooded homes for a second time that summer.

For some residents, the summer of 2006 wasn’t the first time they had to wade through sewage in their basements. Homeowners went through similar problems in 1998. Blackburn Hamlet, meanwhile, experienced flooding in 1996.

After the 2006 incident, instead of looking to directly compensate homeowners, councillors worked to find long-term solutions. Just this past summer area councillors announced $4 million worth of flood-related work in Orléans was being completed to mitigate future problems.

Monette, who said he’ll support the flood relief motion now that it’s citywide, indicated it would’ve been better to use the money to find solutions. He pointed to the city’s plumbing program as an example, which ultimately offers affected residents more than $1,000.

Under the program, which was recently revised, residents who have experienced flooding can receive up to $7,500 for the installation of a sealed sump pump system. The grant limit was also increased from $2,500 to $3,750 for homeowners who have not experienced flooding but are in an area that has previously flooded.