Advice to Drivers and Homeowners Following Significant Rainfall

With significant rainfall in the last 24 hours and more rain in the forecast, the City of Windsor is asking motorists to use caution on area roadways. Over-the-road flooding is an issue on some local streets as well as locations along E.C. Row Expressway.

Please reduce your speed, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, and avoid driving through flooded areas, especially underpasses. Do not attempt to drive through flooded underpasses, as this can be extremely dangerous. City crews are closely monitoring the situation and have dispatched our emergency response team to the affected areas. If you see a flooded roadway, please call 311 to report it so we can dispatch a crew to the area.

As of 9:00 this morning, 311 had received eight calls regarding basement flooding, 22 reports of road flooding or blocked catch basins and 23 reports of trees damaged or down in the roadway.

Since the endorsement by Council of the Sewer and Coastal Flood Protection Master Plan, over $60 million has been invested in capital projects and programs to address basement flooding citywide. To meet the City’s flood reduction goals, private property owners are encouraged to take an active role in protecting their properties from flood damage and mitigating the stress on the municipal sewer system. Taking action at home is one way that residents can significantly reduce the risk of basement flooding in our community.

What can homeowners do?

  • Make sure your home’s downspouts are disconnected from the municipal drain system so that storm water is deposited on lawns or in rain gardens. This reduces the amount of water in the sewers, thereby reducing the risk of sewer backup.
  • Ensure the grading around your foundation is sloped away from the exterior walls. This will keep water further from your home where it can pool and drain naturally once the rain ends.
  • Make sure your eaves troughs are clear of leaves and other debris so that water doesn’t cascade over the edge and down to your foundation.
  • Ensure catch basins are clear of leaves and debris and able to receive water to help to prevent flooding on roadways near your home.
  • Check your sump pump to ensure it’s working properly.
  • Note that the City provides service for blocked sewer laterals (sometimes referred to as "eeling"), through an acceptable cleanout, up to three times in any 24-month period. After that time, the sewer lateral will no longer be provided service until it is replaced. You can contact 311 to request this service.

The City also offers the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program to owners of residential dwellings (single-family and duplex homes), a financial subsidy of up to $2,800 to install a sump pump with sump-pump overflow and/or backwater valve(s) and/or disconnect foundation drains from the floor drain.

For more information, visit our Flooding page, refer to our Residential Guide to Flood Prevention and Recovery or contact 311.