Responding to Flooding: Action Underway in Grimsby

The recent flooding events in Grimsby have had a significant impact on our community. We know that for some residents, this has meant much more than water on a road or in a yard. It has meant flooded basements, damaged property, difficult clean-up, unexpected expenses and a great deal of stress and uncertainty.

We want our residents to know: the Town is taking these concerns seriously, and we are taking action.

During the flooding events, Town staff worked alongside emergency services and utility providers to assess conditions, respond to public safety concerns and support affected areas. Staff also conducted wellness checks and hazard assessments, and thankfully, no injuries, rescues or evacuations were reported.

Following the August 10 Council meeting, several measures are now moving forward – some immediately, and others focused on understanding what happened and reducing the risk and impact of future flooding.

Immediate support for residents

A simpler way to report flooding

We have added a dedicated flooding option to the Town’s Report an Issue tool to make it easier for residents to formally report basement flooding and other municipal storm-related concerns.

If you have experienced a flooding issue that has not yet been reported to the Town, please submit it through the Report an Issue tool. This is the best way to ensure your concern is logged, directed to the appropriate staff and reviewed as quickly as possible.

Report a flooding issue

Residents are encouraged to use the Report an Issue tool wherever possible so concerns can be logged and reviewed by the appropriate staff. For urgent flooding-related matters, residents may contact the Town of Grimsby Operations Centre at 905-945-9201. During extreme weather events with high call volumes, callers may be asked to leave a message. Calls will be triaged and responded to as quickly as possible.

For emergencies, please call 911.

Please remember that reporting flooding to the Town does not replace contacting your home insurance provider regarding damage to your property.

Town fees waived for flood-related investigations and protection

We also recognize that some residents are taking steps to better understand what may have contributed to flooding in their homes or what they can do to help protect their property in the future.

Effective immediately, the Town is temporarily waiving fees associated with sewer service connection investigations and backwater valve permits.

A sewer service investigation is a proactive step residents can take if they have experienced previous sewer backup or drainage issues or believe their property may be at higher risk of sewer-related problems. The investigation can help identify issues with the pipe connecting the home to the municipal sewer, such as blockages, cracks, tree-root intrusion or other conditions that could contribute to a sewer backup.

This complimentary service is provided during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents who have experienced previous issues or have concerns about their sewer service can contact the Operations Centre at 905-945-9201 to discuss whether an investigation may be appropriate.

A backwater valve is a device installed on a home's sanitary sewer connection that can help prevent sewage from flowing backward into the home during a sewer backup.

These waived fees are one immediate step the Town can take to provide some relief while additional flood-assistance options are explored.

Temporary household waste supports

As previously communicated, Niagara Region is offering temporary household waste service enhancements for Grimsby residents affected by flooding. These enhanced services have now been extended, providing residents with additional time to dispose of flood-related waste.

Temporary services include:

• Garbage limits lifted for flood-related waste on regular collection days from Aug. 17 to 21
• No booking or item limits for flood-related large items
• Tipping fees waived at the Niagara Road 12 Landfill for flood-related waste until Aug. 22

For full details about household waste service enhancements, visit https://niagararegion.ca/waste/flood-response.aspx

More help and information for residents

The Town has also expanded the information available online to help residents understand basement flooding, water leaks and drainage issues, including information about possible causes and steps residents can take depending on their situation.

Flooding, drainage and water information

Advocating for additional financial assistance

We know the financial impact of flooding can be significant.

Council has requested that the Province of Ontario review and expand available disaster assistance programs to better reflect the impacts experienced by residents, businesses, farms and municipalities. The Town is also asking the Province to consider the impacts experienced across the entire Niagara Region when determining eligibility for assistance.

At the local level, Town staff are investigating the potential for a flood assistance rebate or grant program, as part of the 2027 budget process. If programs are launched, the information will be available on the Town’s website and social media channels.

Looking beyond the immediate response

Our work does not end with the clean-up.

The Town will be identifying areas impacted during the recent storm events, reviewing existing stormwater inspection and maintenance programs, assessing potential infrastructure and drainage improvements, and developing longer-term recommendations to strengthen Grimsby’s flood mitigation and overall resiliency to deal with sever storm events.

The Town will continue to work with regional and provincial partners and other agencies to ensure we are providing a coordinated approach to better manage stormwater and strengthen our community's resilience to increasingly significant rainfall events.

We know there are residents looking for answers, and we know there is more work to do.

Some solutions can happen quickly. Others will require investigation, engineering, investment and collaboration with our partners. But the work is underway.

To everyone who has reported an issue, helped a neighbour, assisted with clean-up or shown patience as our teams continue to respond: Thank You!

We will continue to listen, investigate and take action – and we will continue to share information with our community as this work moves forward.

Residents interested in reviewing the formal flooding memo presented to Council, including rainfall data collected from climate stations in the area, can view it online: View the August 10 flooding memo