Motorists urged to exercise caution

As motorists found themselves stranded in swampy roadways across the region on Thursday morning, the Essex Region Conservation Authority expanded its flood watch to include Windsor, Tecumseh and Lakeshore — and urged drivers not to take foolish chances. ERCA said rainfall in excess of 120 millimetres was recorded early Thursday in parts of those municipalities, rendering many roads impassable. “Do not drive through standing or ponded water,” warned Tim Byrne, ERCA’s director of watershed management services. “These locations should not be assumed to be safe to drive through. Extra precaution should be taken,” Byrne said in a news release. “Flowing water and standing water can be extremely hazardous.” Byrne also advised property owners to look for catch basins on their land, and to make sure they are clear of debris.