Ottawa Recovery Update: July 1 Extreme Weather & DRAO Financial Assistance

Written By David Brown

By the Numbers (Cumulative Impact)

  • The City has received more than 7,100 service requests related to the extreme weather event.

  • The City has received more than 6,100 reports of basement flooding.

  • Solid Waste Services has removed more than 2,700 tonnes of storm-related debris from impacted communities.

  • The City has provided temporary emergency accommodation to more than 100 residents and has addressed all known requests.

  • Ottawa Fire Services, St. John Ambulance, and Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue have completed more than 4,200 wellness visits.

  • More than 1,100 residents have attended a community hub or information session.

  • The City has received more than 900 applications to the compassionate grant program.

New – Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) Update

The Province of Ontario has confirmed that the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program will be activated for residents in eligible areas of Ottawa affected by significant flooding. Eligible residents will soon be able to apply for financial assistance for losses not covered by insurance once the program is formally activated and application details are released.

Residents are encouraged to check Ottawa.ca regularly for updates. Information on eligibility, the application process, and available support will be posted as soon as it is provided by the Province.

New – Volunteer Opportunities Now Available

Samaritan's Purse Canada is seeking volunteers to support extreme weather event response efforts in Ottawa. Residents interested in volunteering can learn more and register through the organization's volunteer sign-up page. Samaritan's Purse is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is independently coordinating and managing volunteer support for affected residents. Individuals who register will volunteer directly with Samaritan's Purse, not the City of Ottawa.

New – Trail Waste Facility Landfill Reimbursements

Information on reimbursement for eligible residents who have already paid storm-related waste disposal fees at the Trail Waste Facility Landfill is now available on Ottawa.ca. The information outlines how to submit a reimbursement request, required supporting documentation, and anticipated processing timelines.

Community Information Sessions

Several community information hubs and sessions were held for impacted residents between July 9 and 14. An additional session is taking place today, July 16, at the Nepean Sportsplex in the Richmond Room from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, where residents can ask questions directly to City staff and partners. Additional sessions are currently being planned and will be communicated as soon as possible.

Wellness Visits and Human Needs

While homeowners remain responsible for removing damaged materials from their properties and should work with their insurance providers and qualified contractors, wellness visits are intended to identify vulnerable residents who may have no available supports.

Of the wellness visits completed to date, staff continue to directly follow up with households identified as requiring additional support to provide information, connect them with available resources, and assist with identified needs.

New – Reported Basement Flooding Service Requests by Ward

The table below provides a ward-by-ward breakdown of service requests submitted to the City that reported basement flooding. These figures reflect reports officially received by the City and may not represent the total number of properties that experienced basement flooding. Logging a service request helps the City connect you with available support.

Ward Service Requests
ALTA VISTA 19
BARRHAVEN EAST 22
BARRHAVEN WEST 71
BAY 1,672
BEACON HILL-CYRVILLE 3
CAPITAL 16
COLLEGE 2,500
GLOUCESTER-SOUTHGATE 53
KANATA NORTH 474
KANATA SOUTH 76
KITCHISSIPPI 58
KNOXDALE-MERIVALE 755
ORLÉANS SOUTH-NAVAN 1
OSGOODE 10
RIDEAU-JOCK 11
RIDEAU-ROCKCLIFFE 6
RIDEAU-VANIER 8
RIVER 164
RIVERSIDE SOUTH-FINDLAY CREEK 15
SOMERSET 33
STITTSVILLE 15
WEST CARLETON-MARCH 6
(blank)16
Total 6,004

Public Information

The City will continue to provide residents with regular updates through Ottawa.ca and social media channels. Current communications are focused on making information clearer for residents regarding insurance and claims, Trail Road landfill reimbursements, and special consideration for parking enforcement in impacted areas while restoration contractors are on-site.

A Public Service Announcement is planned for tomorrow morning to promote two existing newsletters that Public Information and Media Relations uses to publish daily news and weekly recaps. You can help by promoting the eSubscriptions sign-up page.

Ottawa Public Health also continues to share public health guidance related to flood recovery, including information on mold prevention and safe clean-up practices. The online toolkit of resources and today's "By the Numbers" social media infographic will continue to be updated as new information comes in.

Extreme Heat

A heat event continues. The City is amplifying public messaging and directing residents to Ottawa Public Health’s Extreme Heat and Humidity webpage for information on staying safe, recognizing the signs of heat-related illness, and accessing cooling resources.

Contact

  • Residents: For non-emergency assistance, please submit a request online or call 3-1-1.

  • Members of Council: Please continue to make use of the Councillor Liaison function in the Emergency Coordination Centre. Staff will continue to keep Council informed as operations progress.

For the latest information on upcoming community information sessions, storm-related waste collection, available human need support programs, insurance claims, and road impacts, visit Ottawa.ca.

David Brown
Next

July 1 Storm Recovery: City Opens Support Hubs, Clears Debris, and Assesses Damage