Ice Storm Update

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

As you know, the weekend of extreme weather has led to a build-up of snow and ice in the City of Toronto. Unfortunately, Environment Canada has advised that we remain under significant rainfall warning today.
 
Staff from across City of Toronto divisions and agencies, including Transportation Services, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Police Service, the Office of Emergency Management, TTC, and Toronto Hydro have been responding on a 24/7 basis to this weekend's ice storm.
 
On that note, I would like to reassure you that salt trucks are active across the City, while plows target arterial and collector roads identified as priority locations. Staff continue to be strategic in their street-clearing efforts to ensure that catch basins remain clear and avoid excessive flooding.
 
Crews are actively clearing catch basins on City streets and you can help expedite this process by clearing any covered catch basins in your neighbourhood.
 
To help protect you and your home from flooding, please ensure there is a channel for the melting snow and rain to make its way to the catch basin and ensure downspouts are not blocked with snow or ice to allow for proper drainage. You can prepare your basement for potential flooding by moving valuables to shelves or upper floors. 
 
If your basement has flooded, please report it by calling 311 immediately. For safety reasons, it is important to call Toronto Hydro to disconnect power if there is flood water in your basement. I would also encourage to you to reach out to your insurance company to report property damage a soon as possible. Please be mindful of your health and safety by not standing in flood water when cleaning up a flooded basement. You can also find more tips for preventing basement flooding here.
 
Toronto Hydro continues to experience an extremely high volume of calls and incidents of power outage in the City. Additional crews have been activated and restoration has continued throughout the night. Crews prioritize public safety issues first, then look to resume hydro for the highest number of customers impacted, followed by smaller, individual outages. Power outages at 1210 Don Mills Road and 160 The Donway West have been reported and received by Toronto Hydro. After numerous phone calls with Toronto Hydro, I am happy to report that power has now been restored at 160 The Donway West. Toronto Hydro has also reassured my office that they will work diligently to resume power at 1210 Don Mills Road. I am continuing to monitor the outages in Ward 25 and work with Toronto Hydro until they are resolved.
 
If you experience a power outage, please phone 416 542 8000 and then press 1 to report the outage to Toronto Hydro's dispatch team. This ensures that the outage is logged and that restoration will occur as soon as possible.
 
Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this weather event. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns.

Warm regards,

Jaye Robinson

Don River Update: Water level is stable and the TRCA does not anticipate any river flooding at this time. The G. Ross Lord Dam will remain closed until weather conditions improve.