The City of Windsor has had nearly 2,700 calls for flooded basements to the 311 Call Centre in the last two days.
City Engineer Mark Winterton says the call centre volume is still extremely high and he expects that number to rise. He says if you don't want to wait on the phone you can report flooding or inquiry about the city's subsidy programs here.
In September 2016, 3,100 people reported their basements flooded after a heavy rainfall event.
Winterton says people who take advantage of the city's programs to disconnect downspouts and install sump pumps and back water valves are seeing positive results. He notes that nothing is guaranteed to prevent a basement from flooding in the future.
A special garbage pick-up has been arranged for residents on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Crews will begin in the Riverside area.
The city has set out the following guidelines for flood debris pick up:
1) Flood damaged materials include mattresses, appliances, rugs (cut and bundled in 4 foot lengths), furniture, and building materials (bundled, bagged or placed in pails). Nails must be removed from all wood and drywall. Appliances must have doors secured shut.
2) Collection crews will not pick up loose material. All loose items must be placed at the curb in garbage bags weighing no more than 20 kg (44 lbs). Bags should not be stacked but rather placed side by side. The hard-sided garbage container by-law will be waived for this special collection only.
3) Household chemical waste, paint cans, and other chemicals are not to be placed at the curb. Please visit the Household Chemical Waste Depot for proper disposal of those items.
4) Please have items at the curb (not in the alley) by 6am on the scheduled pick up days for flood related materials. Normal residential garbage pick-up continues in addition to pre-scheduled flood service pick-ups.
Yard waste collection is cancelled for the next two weeks to allow for additional flood debris pick-up days. The Public Drop-off Depot on Central Ave. is also open and will accept items free of charge. However, the city is reporting long wait times.
