Municipal officials in St. Catharines and Lincoln have declared states of emergency following intense storms that dropped more than 140 mm of rain on the Niagara region in less than a week, overwhelming stormwater infrastructure, roads, and homes while causing widespread power outages and transportation disruptions.
St. Catharines Mayor Declares Emergency From Flooded Basement
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe recorded a video from his flooded basement on Sunday night, stating that the city had experienced a “hurricane’s worth” of rain. According to city officials, the last two rainfall events each produced two to three times the forecasted amount of precipitation. With the ground already saturated from a week of exceptional rainfall, Mayor Siscoe warned that the risk of further impacts from another significant storm remains elevated.
The city, home to a population of just under 137,000, issued a formal declaration on Monday. Mayor Siscoe noted that many residents were dealing with devastating flooding for the second time in less than a week. The emergency declaration permits the city to maintain enhanced coordination, access emergency resources more quickly, and respond without delay if conditions deteriorate.
In his video message, Mayor Siscoe stated that the municipality had been left to fend for itself and called on higher levels of government for help. “I am respectfully requesting at this time that the federal and provincial governments get together and find a way to provide some form of disaster relief assistance to the city of St. Catharines,” he said.
Did You Know? St. Catharines and surrounding areas were placed under a rainfall warning on Sunday with more than 50 mm expected, alongside a brief tornado warning issued by Environment Canada as severe weather swept across the Niagara region.
Town of Lincoln Responds to Historic Flooding
Roughly 23 kms north of St. Catharines, the Town of Lincoln also declared a state of emergency due to what Mayor Sandra Easton described as historic flooding over a 24-hour period. Mayor Easton stated in a news release that the community of approximately 26,000 people faced an extraordinary challenge affecting families, businesses, farms, and critical infrastructure.
Town officials reported receiving nearly 300 calls from residents regarding property flooding in the last 24 hours. The extraordinary rainfall overwhelmed local stormwater systems and municipal services, a situation worsened by widespread power outages. The emergency declaration strengthens Lincoln’s ability to coordinate resources, execute emergency measures, and support requests for provincial assistance.
Transit Disruptions Impact Regional Commuters
Severe weather and rising waters also disrupted regional transit services across the Niagara area. GO trains travelling between St. Catharines and Niagara Falls faced delays of up to 30 minutes due to flooding, according to transit officials.
Services servicing St. Catharines, however, have been cancelled and a bus shuttle is now in place, prompting officials to deploy a bus shuttle replacement. Commuters traveling to and from St. Catharines were directed to board buses at the Niagara Falls Bus Terminal or Confederation GO, with officials advising passengers to monitor GO’s service updates page for real-time schedule information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did St. Catharines and Lincoln declare states of emergency?
Both municipalities declared states of emergency following intense storms that dropped more than 140 mm of rain in less than a week, overwhelming local stormwater infrastructure, roads, homes, and municipal services.
What assistance is St. Catharines seeking from senior levels of government?
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe has formally requested that federal and provincial governments provide disaster relief assistance to help the city manage the aftermath of the severe flooding.
How has regional public transit been affected by the storms?
GO train service to and from St. Catharines was cancelled due to flooding, with bus shuttles established at Niagara Falls Bus Terminal and Confederation GO to move stranded passengers.
How are local authorities handling transportation and infrastructure concerns in your community during severe weather events?
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