July 1 Storm Recovery: City Opens Support Hubs, Clears Debris, and Assesses Damage
Following the extreme weather event on July 1, the City of Ottawa has received 5,304 reports of basement flooding. Multi-agency recovery operations are ongoing across the city to provide emergency services, clear debris, and support impacted residents.
Community Supports
Community Information Hubs
The City has opened information hubs for residents impacted by the storm. Staff are onsite to answer questions and provide detailed information on available programs, resources, and safety procedures.
Residents are encouraged to visit the City’s extreme weather webpage to verify operating hours and details before visiting, as locations and hours are subject to change based on demand. The following community hubs are active:
Ottawa Public Library - Beaverbrook (2500 Campeau Drive)
Ron Kolbus Centre (102 Greenview Avenue)
Ottawa Public Library - Centennial (3877 Old Richmond Road)
Nepean Sportsplex, Entrance 1 (1701 Woodroffe Avenue)
Ottawa Public Library - Emerald Plaza (1547 Merivale Road)
Wellness Visits
Ottawa Fire Services, supported by St. John Ambulance, are actively conducting wellness visits in impacted communities, with over 1,100 visits completed so far.
Please Note: While homeowners remain responsible for removing damaged materials from their properties and working with their insurance providers or qualified contractors, these wellness visits are specifically intended to identify vulnerable residents who may completely lack available supports.
Additionally, Ottawa Police and By-law officers have been deployed to affected neighbourhoods to provide information and remind residents of potential health risks. Public health guidance strongly advises residents to avoid handling potentially contaminated materials and to follow safety protocols when sorting through storm debris or salvaging items.
Emergency Accommodations
To date, the City has successfully accommodated 98 residents from 58 households requiring temporary emergency shelter, addressing all requests received so far.
Operational Updates
Storm Debris Collection
Storm debris collection continues to be prioritized in the hardest-hit areas. To date, Solid Waste services have removed over 1,000 tonnes of storm-related debris from local communities. Detailed guidance on post-flood clean-up is available at Ottawa.ca.
Traffic Services Update
Traffic Services is working to resolve ongoing street flooding and traffic signal malfunctions. The following road closures and traffic impacts remain in effect:
Holly Acres Road southbound at the Highway 417 eastbound off-ramp
March Valley Road between Klondike Road and Cameron Harvey Drive
Hanson Side Road / Dark’s Side Road between Dominion Spring Road and 12th Concessions South (Pakenham)
For real-time, regularly updated traffic impacts, please visit traffic.ottawa.ca.
Additional Financial & Health Support
Disaster Recovery Assistance
The City is working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program. Ongoing local damage assessments will determine formal eligibility for the program. The City is also engaging with the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response to explore further provincial resources.
Public Health Guidance
Ottawa Public Health continues to share critical health guidance related to flood recovery. Residents are encouraged to review their online resources for information on mold prevention, safe clean-up practices, and other health considerations before handling water-damaged waste.
The City is also proactively reaching out via email to the 5,500 residents who logged 3-1-1 service requests after the storm to ensure they have direct access to information regarding insurance, claims, waste disposal, and social supports.
Contact Information
For non-emergency assistance, residents are encouraged to submit a report online or call 3-1-1 to help staff prioritize calls relating to the storm response. Please visit Ottawa.ca for an extensive list of community contacts and support resources.
