Our climate is changing, bringing warmer, wetter, and more unpredictable weather. This page provides information and resources to help residents prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe weather events.
Emergency Preparedness
The City of Burlington and our partners are prepared to quickly respond to protect you and your family in case of an emergency or disaster. Everyone has a role to play in preparedness and safety. By doing a few basic things to prepare yourself, your family and your business, you can help protect what is important to you. Learn more about emergency kits, plans and tips.
Flood Prevention Programs
Homeowners are encouraged to play an active role in reducing flood risks by taking advantage of available City and regional programs.
Stay Connected
In major flood emergencies, information is shared on the City’s corporate social media channels as well as on the Extreme Weather Alerts page or you can sign up to receive extreme weather updates.
When City facilities are closed due to weather, residents can stay informed by subscribing to Facility Closure updates or by checking our Facility, sports field and pool closures page.
Report flooding
If you notice flooding on streets, roadways, parks, or other public areas, please contact Service Burlington by calling or emailing. These types of surface flooding are managed by the City of Burlington.
If you experience flooding in your basement - whether from overland water or sanitary sewer backups - please call Halton Region at 3-1-1. This service will connect you with the Region of Halton, which handles residential basement flooding. Staff will ensure your concern is forwarded to the appropriate specialists for follow-up.
For emergencies or immediate danger, dial 9-1-1.
Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians
The City of Burlington is pleased to announce that the Ontario government is activating the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program to provide much needed support for residents in designated areas of Burlington alongside creeks after flooding in July. The City welcomes this important financial support.
The DRAO program is administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and provides financial assistance to individuals, small owner-operated businesses, farmers and not-for-profit organizations after a natural disaster.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that designated areas in Burlington that were affected by flooding alongside creeks are eligible to apply for funding through the DRAO program. Within the activation areas, damage caused by sewer backup flooding is only eligible if a household is low-income as defined in the DRAO guidelines.
To find out if you are eligible for assistance and for next steps, individuals should review activation areas and program guidelines.
If you have any questions relating to the Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, you can contact the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as follows:
- Call: 1-877-822-0116 after speaking with your private insurance provider.
- disasterassistance@ontario.ca after speaking with your private insurance provider.
Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why aren’t all affected Burlington properties included within the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) activation areas? |
| 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. |
Where can I get more information about the DRAO program including how to apply if I am in an activation area? |
|
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website provides information on:
Please visit Ontario's Apply for disaster recovery assistance page for more information. |
I believe that the flooding that affected my home/small business was due to creek flooding, but my property is not included in a DRAO activation area. Can I submit a DRAO application for consideration anyway? |
| Please visit Ontario's Apply for disaster recovery assistance page for more information on the application process. |
Why is the special provision for low-income households only applicable to the DRAO activation areas? |
| This special provision, and all details regarding eligibility, are administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Please visit Ontario's Apply for disaster recovery assistance page for more details. |
What financial support is available for activated areas for the DRAO program? |
|
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 Ontario's Apply for disaster recovery assistance page for more information. |
How did City staff work with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to provide them the information to help the Minister make the decision on whether to activate the DRAO program? |
|
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. |
Flood Emergency Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get help during and after a flood? |
Are you or someone else in immediate danger?If there is immediate danger, dial 9-1-1. Do you have a flooded basement?
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. |
Who do I call with flood concerns and support? |
In addition to flooded basements, contact Halton Region for:
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:
Call Service Burlington at 905-335-7777 or email city@burlington.ca. During an active weather event, response times may be longer than usual. |
Where can I send my concerns? |
|
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. |
How can I prevent floods in my home? |
|
Visit our Home Flood Prevention page for a list of programs and tips for homeowners to help prevent home flooding. |