State of Emergency Declared in St. Catharines After Major Flood Event

The City of St. Catharines has declared a state of emergency after a second round of torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding across the community, compounding damage caused by storms just days earlier.

Mayor Mat Siscoe declared the state of emergency, saying the city has been severely impacted by two intense storm systems that dumped more than 140 millimetres of rain between July 27-28 and again on Aug. 2.

The declaration follows a Significant Weather Event declared Sunday night after another storm brought more than 100 millimetres of rain across most of the city, with even higher amounts recorded in some neighbourhoods. Municipal crews have been responding to flooding, overflowing catch basins, blocked ditches and damage to private properties.

Residents whose homes have flooded are being urged to contact their insurance providers to begin the claims process.

To assist those affected, the Kiwanis Aquatics Centre opened its lobby, washrooms, change rooms and shower facilities Monday morning for residents without access to those amenities. The facility's pools were scheduled to reopen later in the day after flood-related delays.

The city has also expanded flood recovery efforts in partnership with the Niagara Region. Beginning Monday, residents in affected areas of Merritton and Secord Woods can place unlimited household garbage, bulky furniture and construction debris at the curb for collection. Tipping fees remain waived at the Humberstone and Bridge Street landfills, while large waste bins will be placed at select city facilities beginning Tuesday for residents disposing of flood-damaged materials.

Officials are also asking residents to avoid creeks, streams and other waterways, where water levels remain elevated, and to use caution around roads and low-lying areas that may still be prone to flash flooding.

The city has activated its Vulnerable Assistance Registry to help eligible residents who need assistance removing water and flood-damaged materials from their homes.

The latest flooding comes less than a week after an extraordinary rainfall event overnight July 27-28 inundated much of St. Catharines. The north end of the city was hit particularly hard, with approximately 138 millimetres of rain recorded in Port Dalhousie and 126 millimetres in Port Weller—more rainfall than the community typically receives during the entire month of July.

City officials say crews have been working around the clock since the first storm to assess infrastructure, address public safety concerns and support recovery efforts. They continue to urge residents to report urgent flooding issues through the city's emergency service line while recovery operations remain underway.