Ontario city declares state of emergency after 'hurricane's worth of rain'

St. Catharines, Ontario, is grappling with extensive flooding after a series of powerful storms delivered "a hurricane's worth of rain" in just over a week. Mayor Mat Siscoe declared a state of emergency on Monday, citing "three very extraordinary rainfall events" that overwhelmed the city's infrastructure.

The first storm hit on July 21, followed by another deluge from July 27 to 28, and a final downpour on Sunday. The relentless rain caused widespread flooding, impacting homes, businesses, and city facilities. Significant property damage, including shoreline erosion, has been reported.

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This wasn’t one isolated weather event; this was a series of three very extraordinary rainfall events that happened in our community.

The city's emergency operations center has been active since last Tuesday, coordinating response efforts and managing the ongoing recovery. Crews are working to clear debris from catch basins, grates, and waterways to improve water flow. The emergency declaration provides the city with more tools to respond quickly and bolsters its case for provincial and federal assistance.

Mayor Siscoe, seen in a video walking through his own flooded basement, directly appealed to higher levels of government for aid. "No infrastructure can handle a hurricane's worth of rain on Tuesday and then again on Sunday," he stated. Premier Doug Ford confirmed on X that the province is collaborating with affected municipalities in the Niagara Region, deploying resources like the Ontario Corps, the Salvation Army, and Team Rubicon to aid in recovery efforts.

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No infrastructure can handle a hurricane’s worth of rain on Tuesday and then again on Sunday and our city is no different from the other cities in this country.