Huntsville Councillor Tim Withey told his colleagues at Tuesday evening’s Council meeting that he’s been hearing complaints from ratepayers about how the Town communicated with its residents about flooding issues.
“Some people felt that they were told that everything was going to be okay, it’s not going to be that bad, and then bang all this happens almost to 2013 levels,” said Withey of the rise in Huntsville water levels.
He said he’s heard anger from residents, not just the business people in the downtown affected by the swell of the river, but single-family residences on Lake Vernon and people who have had to evacuate their home due to flooding.
“I think the unique thing about this particular year is that as the director pointed out, it peaked [at the Williamsport guage] on Saturday at 4 a.m. at 183 cubic metres per second, which is not as high as it’s been in the past. Usually, when it peaks it starts to fall off pretty quickly and it didn’t, and so in our experience that’s usually what happens,” responded Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison.
He said because the water had been recorded as having peaked at the Williamsport bridge gauge on the Big East River, the expectation was that it would begin to recede soon.
Withey noted that the flood of 2013 was characterized as a hundred-year flood. “Well now it’s only six years later and we’re at it again, so this is the new normal and you know, we’ve gotta wake up and realize it.”
Withey, also a Huntsville insurance broker, said the industry is contracting as far as offering coverage for overland water or increasing deductibles. “So there isn’t that sort of protection as far as that coverage goes because the insurance industry as a whole is taking a beating worldwide.”
The Town is expected to update residents shortly as per a press release issued yesterday at approximately 4 p.m.
As of Wednesday afternoon, water levels in downtown Huntsville were still rising. You can find specific, real-time hydrometric readings on the waterways at this link, to help determine water levels in specific areas.
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Are we all rich then? Poorer people often have no choice as to where they choose to live. The flooding needs to be looked at in engineering terms. Flat land with a lot of snow pack can probably be helped by control dams. That is something governments are going to have to take on board. It is literally that hated word “regulation”, but this time it is of water levels. Hi Doug Ford. We are fortunate not to be threatened by sea level rises, so let’s sort out the nature of the new climate, adjust our social safety net, and get on with things.
With the whole world having floods it’s not unreasonable to expect high waters. We get high waters every spring. Beer lake and other retailers buildings are built on a swamp that is lower than the river water level. My dad said they used to push old cars into that swamp and the cars sunk out of sight. This should really not come as such a surprise given the amount of snow and rain we had. You have to take some responsibility for your property and be on the lookout for rising waters. My opinion.
In some cases, it’s pretty obvious that you’re on a flood plane, but in many others, that’s very hard to tell, especially these days with 100yr floods becoming the norm. The average joe might not even be thinking of this kind of thing in the excitement of buying a new home. In an effort to help people make _informed_ decisions, perhaps a GIS based flood report needs to be listed with any homes/businesses located on land within several meters (vertical) of the high water mark of any watercourse, as a matter of law. It’s easy to blame people for their decisions, but when they don’t necessarily have all the pertinent info, it might not be as fair a statement as you may think.
What exactly would Mr Kealey expect “the new PC candidate” to do about it ?
Well said. People need to make better choices and take responsibility for them.
The Town (local taxpayers) should not be responsible for people’s errors.
I feel sorry for those who are affected by the flood water alot of these places are on natural flood plains its mother nature in many ways taking what’s hers. We had a unusual winter with alot of snow nature its self is unpredictable so let’s stop blaming it all on the government and take responsibility for where you choose to live
Withey noted that the flood of 2013 was characterized as a hundred-year flood. “Well now it’s only six years later and we’re at it again, so this is the new normal and you know, we’ve gotta wake up and realize it.”
if this is what we, as taxpayers, have to look forward to every 5 or so years what is the town and our now PC party candidate going to do to address it?
Am glad that I live toward the top of a hill but empathise with all those business owners that are now underwater ,literally and, with insurance companies .
With the climate changing that 100 year flood thing is now extinct.