DVP, Toronto island ferries at risk due to persistent rainfall and flooding
Posted May 5, 2017 01:34:40 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The City of Toronto is warning a possible full closure of the Don Valley Parkway could happen Friday afternoon due to the continuing rain.
Officials are concerned about flooding on the highway and could shut the roadway down as early as 3 p.m., according to a press release Thursday night. They are asking commuters coming into the downtown to consider taking public transit.
Ferries to and from the Toronto islands are cancelled, except for the ferry to Ward’s Island, and that one is only for essential travellers.
Toronto and the GTA are under a rainfall warning and Environment Canada has updated the expected rainfall totals for the region to between 50 and 70 millimetres of rain through Saturday. Earlier, it had been as high as 90 millimetres.
As of 8 a.m. Friday, the city of Toronto had already received 33.3 millimetres of rain. That’s a huge jump from 4 a.m., when it was 23 millimetres. By 8 a.m., Hamilton had received 47.8 millimetres.
Click here to see a live stream of the Don River at Todmorden Mills.
Toronto’s airports: Pearson and the Island
Ever wonder how Pearson International Airport deals with all the water? Check out the video below. Meanwhile, the island airport should be fine, PortsToronto (formerly Toronto Port Authority) told CityNews.
“General airport operations are not being affected by the elevated water levels at present,” a spokesperson said.
Many of the runways at Billy Bishop have been re-grooved, a safety feature that should “reduce water accumulation during rainfall, and provide an escape channel for water that may become trapped between the pavement surface and an aircraft tire.”
River watch
City of Toronto officials are also preparing for an evacuation of the islands if there is major flooding, the Toronto Star reports. A ferry is stationed on Hanlan Point for any of the 700 residents on the island that need to evacuate.
The Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) has issued a flood watch for areas around rivers and streams. A paddling excursion on the Don River has also been cancelled.
Anne Marie Aikins with Metrolinx said they have a diversion plan in place for the Richmond Hill GO train corridor should it flood.
“We have been out there monitoring the corridor. We also monitor Lakeshore East and anything else that is susceptible to flooding,” Aikins said.
In 2013, hundreds of commuters had to be rescued from GO trains by police using boats after the tracks flooded.
The precipitation will stick around over the weekend. Another 5-10 millimetres of rain could accumulate on Saturday and flurries are possible north and west of the GTA on Sunday.
The anticipated rainfall comes with the rising waters of Lake Ontario already at unprecedented levels this season. The TRCA said the damage has been done to the shores and it will take years for it to return to its original state.
Electricity safety tips
Follow these four steps if your property has flooded:
- Never assume the area affected by the flood is safe.
- Stay out of your basement or property if you know or suspect water has risen above electrical outlets, baseboard heaters, furnace or near your electrical panel. Electricity can move through water or wet flooring and you could receive a serious shock.
- If flood water has risen above outlets, baseboard heaters, furnace, covered power cords, or near the electrical panel, contact your local electric utility immediately and arrange for them to disconnect power to your home. Have your electrical system assessed and repaired by a Licensed Electrical Contractor. You can find a Licensed Electrical Contractor in your area using the search tool on esasafe.com.
- Do not plug in or use electrical appliances that have come into contact with flood waters until the appliances have been checked or serviced by a Licensed Electrical Contractor or appliance service provider. Call a Licensed Electrical Contractor, or contact the manufacturer or dealer for the nearest service location.
Information courtesy Electrical Safety Authority
