By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Homeless residents living in a flood-prone area near the Third Street bridge in Chatham will be warned if the Thames River rises.
That’s according to Jodi Guilmette, general manager of Health and Human Services for Chatham-Kent.
In response to a question from South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci, Guilmette told council the municipality is prepared.
“Yes, there is a plan,” Guilmette said. “We have worked closely with fire emergency management to make sure we do have a process in place whereby we will be able to notify the individuals who are staying down near the river.”
The municipality will be working to assist in “any way possible,” she said, adding it is “something that we do monitor and we are staying on top of.”
Discussion around flooding at the encampment rose as part of a presentation about flooding to council by the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority’s (LTVCA) Jason Wintermute. Wintermute, manager of the LTVCA watershed and information services, described two types of flooding that could occur. The first, brought on by heavy rainfall or precipitation, gives the authority about two days’ lead time before flooding occurs.
However, Wintermute said the second type that could result from an ice jam is a “little more complicated.”
Wintermute said staff physically observe ice jams when they move or break up as conditions can change quickly.
“When it jams, then the Lower Thames has to operate some flood control structures and we need to be examining areas where it might potentially flood,” he said.
Wintermute said that when flooding can’t be averted, residents can prepare for high water.
“A lot of the issues around flooding are about debris,” Wintermute said. “Debris can block culverts and provide issues with drainage, event with rainstorm type stuff. If your catch basins are blocked, this causes problems.”
Wintermute said one of the big things to prepare for flooding is to clean up yards and property to ensure there’s nothing that can be tossed around by floodwaters.
According to Wintermute, another good idea is to have 48-hour emergency preparedness kits on hand just in case.
Paying attention to communications about flooding is also very important for homeowners, he said.
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