The Town of Tecumseh has announced its preparations for residents with the continued risk of lakeshore flooding.
With the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) issuing a long-term flood watch for the region due to continued elevated water levels on Lake St. Clair, the town has designated the shoreline area along Riverside Drive East and Pike Creek as a designated flood area.
"We knew last year that lake levels were high and there was a threat of lake flooding, this year we have been advised that the lake is now higher than that level and higher than the levels where inland flooding occurred in 1986," said Mayor Gary McNamara. "Residents in the flood-prone area need to make their plans now to prepare for potential inland flooding."
Preparations are already in place for residents in this area, including an area to self-evacuate to if needed, an evacuation kit, and plans for the potential of self-evacuation. Also, the town is providing a total of 200 free sandbags for each affected lakefront property, including those covered last year.
As of March 31, water levels on Lake St. Clair were three centimetres above the previous record high in 1986. It is expected that the peak levels this summer will be eight centimetres higher than June and July of 2019.
Based on data from ERCA and Environment Canada, there is a high likelihood that inland flooding will occur. How far inland, how deep the water and how it will impact Tecumseh's sewer systems is entirely dependent on precipitation and wind direction, intensity and duration.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the town is not offering emergency shelters. Instead, residents are urged to identify a safe location to self-evacuate to, along with an alternate in case the first location isn't safe. Alerts will be sent out through Tecumseh's alert system, which people can register for at the town's official website.
For residents in the flood-prone area wishing to get sandbags, the phone number to call is (519) 735-2184, ext. 142. Sand will be available at Lakewood Park South. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels and make sure to stay at least two metres away from others.
Meanwhile, the Essex Region Conservation Authority is warning residents living along Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair there could be flooding Monday afternoon.
Between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Environment Canada predicts gale-force winds that could create metre-high waves on Lake St. Clair. That will elevate the risk of flooding along the shoreline and low-lying areas from Belle River to Lighthouse Cove.
On Lake Erie, waves could get up to two-metres high. Point Pelee Drive from Sturgeon Creek to Point Pelee National Park in Leamington could experience flooding and erosion, along with the western shore of Pelee Island.
