Even as flood waters subside, long-term solutions must be considered

Volunteers fill sandbags on Thursday to help those affected by flooding affecting the Constance Bay area. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

Article content

Clarke Kelly has been city councillor for West Carleton ward since the fall of 2022. In that time, he has been involved in three flood responses.

Article content

Flood waters in Constance Bay have plateaued for now, but on April 21, the Ottawa River reached the highest point for that specific day and time, Kelly said.

Article content

Article content

“It was higher at that day than it was in 2017, 2019, 2023, when we got hit really hard. So I think that leaves people still a bit nervous.”

Article content

Article content

Floods don’t respect national, provincial or municipal boundaries. But, after flood waters recede, the question remains: What can municipalities do to prevent or reduce the damage caused by increasingly frequent flooding?

Article content

Article content

Nature is throwing more water at municipalities than can be managed, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario said in Come Hell or High Water, a 2020 discussion paper released in the wake of major floods in 2017 and 2019.

Article content

At the same time, municipalities face flood-related costs ranging from replacing infrastructure to compensating residents and businesses, insurance costs, lawsuits, increased energy costs and disruptions to departmental budgets and productivity, the discussion paper noted.

Article content

Clarke Kelly, left, councillor for West Carleton-March, talks with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe along Bayview Drive in Constance Bay on Thursday. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

Article content

So what can be done? One strategy is municipal “hazard avoidance policies” that use building permits, official plans and zoning by-laws to restrict development on known floodplains.

Article content

“Obviously we’re going to need to look at where new housing is being built and make sure that it’s not in areas that are now more likely to be flooded than maybe they were 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who was visiting Constance Bay on April 23 to survey the damage.

Article content

Article content

“I think that’s one of the main things we can do going forward, but it’s still challenging when there were homes that were built long before the climate changed and the water levels started rising to higher levels.”

Article content

Article content

Another strategy is the “build back better” principle, which saves municipalities from future costs. In Constance Bay, for example, many houses have been replaced or upgraded with flood-proofing measures.

Article content

“Every year that we’ve responded to floods or potential floods, the number of homes and residences that we’ve had to go to to provide help has been reduced. In between floods, they’ve taken measures to mitigate those risks,” Kelly said.

Article content

Some residents tapped into Disaster Recovery for Ontarians after the 2023 floods and used it to make changes to their properties, ranging from walls to raising their homes or installing additional pumps, he said.

Article content

“A lot of people their homes could still be surrounded by water, but they’ve taken steps to mitigate that,” Kelly said. “They’re able to stay in their home and protect the key pieces of infrastructure.”

Article content

The downside: Property owners typically don’t receive enough funding for the full gamut of measures. Some homeowners can’t be insured, which can mean they’re stuck living at a flood-prone property that can’t be sold.