The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has issued a flood watch for parts of Chatham-Kent.
Recent heavy rains in the lower Thames River watershed have caused water levels around the watershed to rise rapidly.
Forecasts for Friday night and Saturday are calling for an additional 10-20 mm of rain, which would add to the water already in the system and increase the risk of flooding.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) warn that water levels in both Chatham and Thamesville could rise to similar levels seen during the February 2018 flood.
In Chatham proper, the LTVCA expects the Sixth Street dam to be activated.
The sidewalk along the river in the downtown has already flooded. Sixth Street by the cenotaph is closed to all but local traffic.
Depending on how much rain falls, and its timing, potential flooding could include basements along King Street that back onto the river, Siskind Court, William Street near Water, Salter Street, Thames Street around Pitt and Kent, and Pegley Court, officials said.
If there is excessive rain, and the flood control infrastructure for south Chatham can’t keep up, there could be flooding on streets near Indian Creek in south Chatham, and upstream of the Sixth Street dam.
LTVCA flood notices can be found here: www.lowerthames-conservation.on.ca/water-management/flood-forecasting/flood-notices/
Municipal officials have reached out to community partners about the potential flooding of the homeless encampment on Thames Street. Outreach workers are providing warnings and encouraging those in the encampment to move away from the water for their safety. This messaging and outreach will continue until the threat of flooding has passed.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) has also issued a flood warning for watercourses in the Petrolia/Oil Springs area. This could impact waterways in the Wallaceburg area if conditions change.
SCRCA flood notices can be found here: www.scrca.on.ca/category/floodnotice/
Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue Services have crews patrolling flood prone areas in both LTVCA and SCRCA regions to monitor community safety.
