Flood Emergency Response and Safety Information

The focus of DRAO is flood damage from area creeks where flood insurance is more difficult to acquire. Only residents in the activation areas are eligible to apply for assistance.

The DRAO program is not a replacement for insurance and does not cover all damage. Damage caused by sewer backup flooding is only eligible if a household is low-income as defined in the DRAO guidelines.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website provides information on: 

• Eligibility
• Eligibility caps
• How to submit an application
• Who to contact for assistance if you have questions after reading the program guidelines or are having trouble with the application form
• Reconsideration (appeal) process

Please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-disaster-recovery-assistance for more information.

Please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-disaster-recovery-assistance for information on the application process.

This special provision, and all details regarding eligibility, are administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-disaster-recovery-assistance for more details. 

Eligible applicants within the activation areas can receive financial assistance for emergency expenses and costs for repair or replacement of essential property. The intent of the program is to return essential property to its basic function. The program covers the cost of returning property to a basic standard, and cannot be used for making improvements. Financial assistance under the program is subject to caps and deductibles. Each application is assessed on an individual basis, and reimbursement amounts will vary.

Available insurance coverage must be used first to cover eligible damage, with any remaining uninsured damage being eligible for assistance under Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians. Insurance deductibles are not eligible. 

Please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-disaster-recovery-assistance for more information.

Following the July 15 and 16 flood, the City and Halton Region facilitated a damage assessment visit by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Provincial Damage Assessment Team. The purpose of the visit was to assess the damage from flooding caused by creeks. City staff also provided requested information to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding areas impacted by creek flooding based on available information. This essential funding will provide support to community members as they work toward recovery. 

Are you or someone else in immediate danger?

If there is immediate danger, dial 9-1-1.

Do you have a flooded basement?

1. Take immediate health and safety precautions. Visit halton.ca/flood for information about how to prevent illness and injury.
   • Call Halton Region at 3-1-1. You can also reach the Halton Region contact centre at 905-825-6000, or toll-free at 1-866-442-5866, TTY: 905-827-9833;
2. Contact your home or business insurance provider.
   • The City cannot provide advice to private homeowners about insurance policies. If you do not have home or contents insurance, contact your preferred insurance company or broker to obtain an insurance policy.

   • The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has activated their virtual Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion to assist residents with questions related to insurance.

     IBC can be contacted:

     • By phone at 1-844-227-5422
     • By email at ONCIC@ibc.ca

     Information on filing an insurance claim is available on their website.

3. Access mental health resources for support. Recovering from a flood can be difficult and very stressful. Distress Centre Halton provides 24/7 support for people experiencing emotional stress. If you need help, Burlington residents can call 905-681-1488.

Visit halton.ca/flood for more information on what to do if your basement has flooded. This page also includes information on how to apply for the Halton Region Enhanced Basement Flooding Prevention Subsidy Program.

In addition to flooded basements, contact Halton Region for:

• Regional subsidy programs 
  • Halton Region’s Ex-gratia Grant ($1,000) for Public Sewer Backup can help residents to either offset the cost of an insurance deductible or help with in-home flooding-related costs that are not otherwise covered under their home insurance policy. 
  • To be eligible for the Ex-gratia grant, property owners must report in-home flooding, regardless of the source, to Halton Region by calling 311 or emailing accesshalton@halton.ca. Halton Region Public Works staff will follow up as soon as possible to investigate. The grant will be available if Public Works staff have determined that: 
    • A blockage occurred on the municipal side of the wastewater system; or 
    • The wastewater backup was the result of a sewer surcharge. 
    • Visit halton.ca/flood to learn more about steps to take if you experience flooding. 
    • Garbage and waste collection for items that were damaged in a flood 

Call Halton Region at 3-1-1. You can also reach the Halton Region contact centre at 905-825-6000, or toll-free at 1-866-442-5866, TTY: 905-827-9833, or email at accesshalton@halton.ca.

Contact the City of Burlington for:

• Catch basins and maintenance (manholes) overwhelmed with water
• Fallen tree branches or downed trees
• Flooding outside, on the ground, that will not drain away
• Blocked culverts
• Flooded City park or facility
• Road debris
• City of Burlington Flood Relief Grant

Residents with in-house flooding who do not qualify for Halton Region’s Ex-gratia grant can apply for a City grant of $1000. Regional and City grants are only available to those who have reported in-home flooding by calling 311. To be eligible to apply, residents must call 311 to report the flood and arrange an inspection by 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024.

Call Service Burlington at 905-335-7777 or email city@burlington.ca.

During an active weather event, response times may be longer than usual.

City of Burlington Flood Relief Grant ($1,000)

You may qualify for financial assistance from The City of Burlington to help with residential flooding-related costs if the following criteria are met:  

• A flooding event in your residential dwelling occurred in connection to the July 15 or July 16, 2024 weather event and was reported by you to 311; 
• You are the owner or tenant of the residence; 
• A representative of the Regional Municipality of Halton investigated the complaint and determined that: 
  • Water damage occurred within a residential home due to the July 15 or July 16, 2024 extreme weather event; and 
  • The water damage was not the result of: 
    • a blockage on any part of the wastewater system; or 
    • wastewater backup as a result of a sewer surcharge; and,  
  • The application for the Region of Halton Ex-Gratia Grant for Public Sewer Backup was denied for the property; and,  
• No outstanding orders were issued by the City of Burlington to remedy any violations of the Grading and Drainage By-law No. 052-2018, as amended, the Drainage By-law No. 017-2018, as amended, or the Site Alteration By-law No. 062-2014, as amended. 

City of Burlington’s Flood Relief Grant ($1,000) can help residents to either offset the cost of an insurance deductible or help with in-house flooding-related costs that are not otherwise covered under their home insurance policy. Due to high volumes, payments under this program may take four to six weeks to be processed after applications have been received. 

To be eligible for the Flood Relief Grant, you must immediately report the flooding to Halton Region. Halton Region Public Works staff will contact you regarding next steps.

Factors that may make you ineligible for the City of Burlington Flood Grant:  

• damages that are not within the residential home (e.g. water damage to landscaping, pool, deck). 

Halton Region Ex-gratia Grant ($1,000)

Halton Region’s Ex-gratia Grant ($1,000) for Public Sewer Backup can help residents to either offset the cost of an insurance deductible or help with in-home flooding-related costs that are not otherwise covered under their home insurance policy. 

To be eligible for the Ex-gratia grant, property owners must report in-home flooding, regardless of the source, to Halton Region by calling 311 or emailing accesshalton@halton.ca. Halton Region Public Works staff will follow up as soon as possible to investigate. The grant will be available if Public Works staff have determined that: 

• A blockage occurred on the municipal side of the wastewater system; or 
• The wastewater backup was the result of a sewer surcharge. 
• Visit halton.ca/flood to learn more about steps to take if you experience flooding. 
• Garbage and waste collection for items that were damaged in a flood 

Call Halton Region at 3-1-1. You can also reach the Halton Region contact centre at 905-825-6000, or toll-free at 1-866-442-5866, TTY: 905-827-9833, or email at accesshalton@halton.ca.

Building Permit/Zoning Certificate Fee Flood Relief Program

The Building Permit/Zoning Certificate Fee Flood Relief Program covers the cost of building permit and zoning certificate fees for homeowners completing interior renovations following flood damage during the severe weather event on July 15 and 16.

To qualify for the program, homeowners must meet the following criteria:

• Flooding occurred in the residential dwelling in connection with the July 15/July 16, 2024 weather event.
• Flooding was reported to Halton Region at 311.
• A Halton Region representative has investigated and determined the water damage occurred within a residential dwelling due to the July 15/July 16, 2024 weather event.
• Homeowners did not have home insurance coverage or had their insurance claim denied, as confirmed by their insurance company.
• Renovations must be like-for-like replacements.
• Eligible zoning certificate and building permit applications must be submitted before Dec. 20, 2024.

The following fees for qualified work will be covered as part of the program.

Zoning Certificate Fees:

• Residential basement finish
• Additional residential unit
• Zoning exemption

Building Permit Fees:

• Interior alterations/renovations
• Additional residential unit

More information

To apply for assistance with a building permit fee, please email Building Permits.

To apply for assistance with a zoning certificate fee, please visit Community Planning.

Prevention Support – City of Burlington

The City of Burlington’s Home Flood Protection Program can help homeowners reduce their risk of basement flooding and minimize damage if flooding occurs. The program offers homeowners up to 50 per cent of the cost of Home Flood Protection Assessments which aim to find potential ways that water/sewage can enter your home. These assessments are done by a trained third-party assessor and can be completed in-person or virtually, based on homeowner preference.

For more information or to apply for the City’s funding, visit our Home Flood Prevention page.

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Prevention Support – Halton Region

Halton Region’s enhanced basement flooding prevention subsidy program assists property owners in making home improvements that can reduce the risk of flooding from sewer backup. Property owners are provided with subsidies and access to qualified, licensed contractors, making it easier and more affordable to get necessary prevention work completed.

Regional subsidies include:

• Downspout Disconnection: 100 per cent of all eligible costs to disconnect downspouts from the weeping tile, up to a maximum of $500.
• Weeping Tile Disconnection and Sump Pump Installation: 100 per cent of the combined eligible costs to disconnect weeping tiles and install a sump pump, up to a maximum of $5,000.
• Backwater Valve Installation: 50 per cent of the eligible costs to install a backwater valve inside the home, up to a maximum of $675.
• Sewer Lateral (pipe) Lining and Repair: 50 per cent of the eligible costs to repair or line the sewer lateral (pipe), up to a maximum of $2,000.

Residents can visit halton.ca/flood, call 311, or email accesshalton@halton.ca to find program details and instructions on how to apply for a subsidy.

Learn more about flood prevention programs...

If you have a concern related to the City’s long-term policies and plans to address the impact of severe storms in our city, please contact Service Burlington at 905-335-7777 or email city@burlington.ca.