RECORD STORM CREATES ‘EXTREME SITUATION’
The Town of Tecumseh declared a state of emergency while struggling Thursday to deal with its record rainfall as dozens of homeowners were under water with flooding in their basements and on the residential streets.
“This is an extreme situation, unprecedented in Tecumseh,” said Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara.
“This was a high volume of rain that fell in a short period of time. Storm systems are normally designed to accommodate a two- to five-year storm event, depending on the infrastructure. We have reached out to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to assist in assessing the damage.”
Tecumseh was hit with more than 190 millimetres of rain that began at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Of that amount, approximately 100-110 mm fell between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
It was the highest volume of rain experienced in a short amount of time in the town’s history.
“The worst storm in our records (in 2010) was approximately 89 mm of rain in 24 hours,” said Dan Piescic, the town’s director of engineering and public works.
Following that major storm, the town reviewed its sanitary and storm water management systems “and improved areas where we could respond to an event of that size,” he said.
But this current ongoing rain event is “unlike anything the town has experienced,” Piescic said.
“All systems were, and continue to be, fully operational,” he said. “If residents see equipment outside the pumping stations it is there to remove any debris that comes through while the system is operating at maximum capacity.”
The town’s entire staff of 25 members from the public works and parks departments were busy Thursday clearing drains, ensuring pumps were working and assisting emergency services where needed, Piescic said.
Tecumseh OPP and Tecumseh Fire responded to more than 100 emergency calls for assistance as of 2 p.m. on Thursday to help with stalled vehicles, electrical issues in flooded basements and gasoline fumes from pumps.
Drivers were being asked to stay off the town’s roads.
“Residents should take appropriate caution for the next 24 hours,” said Tecumseh Fire Chief Doug Pitre. “Please do not go out in the streets on recreational equipment, pedestrians be careful crossing the road, do not go in your flooded basements if there are electrical devices still connected to power sources and if you must operate a generator or gas pump, please ensure there is proper ventilation.”
Fuel-powered equipment should not be used in basements or garages or outside adjacent to open windows, he said.
The town’s residents are also being asked to keep children and animals away from standing water.
Town officials said they are tracking flooding on properties and any residents who have not contacted the town should do so at tecumseh. ca/flood2016 with details on impacts to their residence.
This is an extreme situation, unprecedented in Tecumseh.