Hamilton hit by an estimated 66 millimetres of rainfall, resulting in basement flooding and road closures

The City of Hamilton was hammered by an estimated 66 millimetres of rainfall on July 22, resulting in road closures, fallen tree limbs and approximately 50 calls about basement flooding.

The majority of calls related to basement flooding involved surface water volume, notes a press release from the city. In addition, the significant volume of rainwater caused the temporary closure of several roads. Water had dissipated by July 24 and all roads were reopened.

The city’s response to the storm continued on July 24, when municipal staff reviewed rain gauge data to get a clearer picture of rainfall trends across the city.

The downpour resulted in the closure of the Household Hazardous Waste depot and the Re-use store, which are located in the Mountain Community Recycling Centre. The city reports these areas will remain closed until further notice.

The Hamilton Conservation Authority reports in a tweet that fallen trees and loose gravel from washouts were being cleared on July 24 as trail maintenance continued in the Dundas Valley.

About 1 mm of rain was forecast for the evening of July 24 to the evening of July 25, notes information from The Weather Network.

The City of Hamilton activated a hotline to handle all inquiries regarding flooding-related damage claims and to help callers obtain the quickest possible information or response. Callers are advised to notify their insurers immediately to further speed up response for assistance.