Tim Murphy
Independent staff
Water flow rates along the Nith River have spiked today, with more rain sure to come.
Anyone living in the flood plain should be sure to get any items off the ground where they will be safe from water.
The Grand River Conservation Authority has issued a flood advisory warning in advance of a forecast calling for rising temperatures mixed with rain this week.
The weather forecast for Wednesday, as of press time, predicted a high of 11C, along with up to 15mm of rain falling across the watershed.
“It’s enough to prompt a warning,” said GRCA spokesperson Dave Schultz.
As with all weather forecasts, those numbers could change at anytime. Be sure to visit the Independent website at http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca for updates on this story.
The Dec. 28 flooding in New Hamburg saw temperatures between 12 C and 15 C, mixed with significantly more rain. Between 15 and 30mm of rain fell.
With some of the worst local flooding in over 30 years still fresh in everyone’s memories, residents of the floodplain in New Hamburg have started to take precautions.
Grace Street homeowner Guy Sisco has been working in his garage for weeks to lift items onto a base of cement blocks in an attempt to keep them dry.
With the thaw coming, he wouldn’t be surprised to see a flood.
“I’ve kinda got sick of working to clean it up,” he said.
Each year a flood occurs, Sisco said he estimates about $2,000 in expenses.
In forty years of living on Grace Street, his basement has flooded seven times, three of which very recently.
Sisko was down at the river just prior to press time. He said the ice was still solid near his home, and that the water levels hadn’t appeared to rise yet.
“I think we’ll be alright.”
Wilmot fire chief John Ritz a flood warning advisory does not prompt any action by the department.
He has been keeping an eye on the situation.
“If there is anything brewing, they are in touch with me,” he said of the GRCA.
But until the situation escalates, there is nothing for the fire department to do.
Last week, Schultz told the Independent the flood risk was minimal.
“The snow on the ground will probably soak up the rain,” he said.
There will be some melting, but the cold nights will keep everything mostly frozen.
“It’s not enough to get things moving,” he said.
A snow survey in Millbank, which is at the top end of the Nith River watershed, shows about half the amount of snow is currently on the ground as there was during Christmas.
As the predicted temperature and rainfall increased however, the GRCA decided to change its opinion of the flood risk.
Despite the very low risk of flooding, Schultz said residents should be ready.
“They should always be on alert,” he said.
Schultz also mentioned an upcoming meeting.
A public open house will be held in New Hamburg to provide residents with information about the flood warning system and to reduce the risks posed by flooding in the community.
The meeting will be held Feb. 19 at the New Hamburg Community Centre, 251 Jacob St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Representatives of several organizations will be on hand to answer questions including the GRCA, the Township of Wilmot, Waterloo regional police, Union Gas and Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro.
A new brochure, available by visiting our website, is being distributed to properties within the floodplain of the Nith River in New Hamburg. It has information on the flood warning system, including a map showing the Flood Warning Levels established in the town.
