Higher levels of government are preparing to work with Chatham-Kent to help find a solution to the flooding that has burdened those living along the Lake Erie shoreline.
This comes after the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ernie Hardeman, visited Erie Shore Drive on Saturday and got a first-hand look at some of the damage by the most recent flooding event. High water levels and strong winds prompted a state of emergency to be declared in the area on Tuesday, which remains in place as of Sunday afternoon.
Hardeman was joined by Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls, Mayor Darrin Canniff, General Manager of Infrastructure Thomas Kelly and local residents as well as farmers. The group toured the scene of the flooding as well as the clean-up taking place and where municipal staff are working to restore the integrity of the dike.
According to Councillor Anthony Ceaccacci, who was in attendance for part of the meeting, Hardeman and Nicholls got a comprehensive overview of the scene and the severity of the situation.
"They did a very detailed analysis of the area. Thomas [Kelly] gave them the rundown of what would occur if the dike were to breach," explained Ceccacci. "There were also discussions with area farmers, they went over some things."
Besides the damage to homes during major floods, Hardeman also heard about how detrimental water damage would be to farms in the area.
"This concerns the residents of Erieau and farmers," said Ceccacci. "Obviously the farmland out there is absolutely massive. In talking to Thomas Kelly in detail, the ramification of that dike breach could have a parameter of up to 1,600 acres of farmland."
The councilor and life long resident of the community also got some one on one time with Minister Hardeman to talk about property loss on Erie Shore Drive and what the residents are going through.
"He was very down to Earth, he sat and listened to me. It was a really good conversation," said Cecacci. "I let him know a lot of things that I was hearing from some of the residents, hearing from some of the farmers and he listened the whole time, which was really beneficial."
A post on Canniff's Facebook page says that the municipality is "actively working with all levels of government as well as the residents on a solution." It adds that there are a lot of moving pieces to the situation.
Ceccacci said he's glad to that Hardeman was able to get a first-hand look at the situation on Erie Shore Drive. He adds that Nicholls had already visited the site several times in the past week and looks at their attentiveness as a positive step to solving a complicated problem.
"To come down on a long weekend, on a Saturday, to see what's happened and the state that that area's in, I think it shows that they are taking a good look at it. But it's time for action. So we have to sit down as a whole, with all three levels of governemnt...and come up with a long term solution."
As for what that solution may be, it's anticipated that provincial authorities will come in and do an assessment of the damage and report their findings sometime next week.
"It really depends on when the state of emergency is lifted," explained Ceaccacci. "We really need the cooperation of mother nature right now."
In the meantime, Ceccacci said municipal workers have been on the sit constantly, making progress and working to reinforce the dike.
