Hello -
As part of our ongoing efforts to support Ward 9 residents impacted by the July 1 extreme weather event, we are continuing to issue these Special Bulletins, in addition to our regular Ward 9 Newsletter. While not everyone on our subscription list has been directly impacted by this crisis, you may know other people who may have been affected. We are also finding that many people who have been impacted haven’t reported it yet or may only recently have returned home and discovered damage. For the time being, we’ll continue to issue these Special Bulletins. Our next Ward 9 Newsletter will be issued on July 21.
Thanks,
Sean
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Disaster Relief Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) Program
Many residents have been asking about the Province of Ontario's Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program. As of July 17, the DRAO program has been activated for areas affected by Graham Creek and Stillwater Creek, with specific boundaries set. This means that Ward 9 residents whose flooding may have been impacted by Graham Creek could be eligible for this program. Affected residents should review the DRAO website to learn as much as they can about this program. As you will see below, this applies to Ward 9 residents living in Trend-Arlington. It also applies to several neighbourhoods in Wards 8 and 7. At this moment, I do not have information on why other parts of Ward 9 or the City of Ottawa are not within the activation area, other than what we have heard from City staff about how DRAO is typically applicable to “riverine” flooding, which is flooding attributed to rivers or creeks.
It's important to understand that DRAO is not emergency funding and does not provide immediate payments. Instead, it is a provincial, application-based reimbursement program that may help eligible homeowners, tenants, and small businesses recover some essential costs that are not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. The deadline for applications for support is November 16, 2026.
Ottawa West–Nepean MPP Chandra Pasma has prepared a very helpful plain-language guide that explains how the program works and what residents can do now to prepare.
Please note:
- Applicants are generally expected to contact their insurer first and keep records such as photographs, receipts, invoices, estimates, and insurance correspondence.
- Potentially eligible expenses may include cleanup costs, temporary living expenses, repairs to essential areas of a home, and replacement of essential household items and appliances. However, not all losses are covered, and applications are reviewed individually.
Residents interested in learning more may wish to consult MPP Pasma's guide, and we expect that this information will be covered at this weekend’s Recovery Information Sessions.
Please note: MPP Chandra Pasma has also produced a very useful Flooding Emergency Guide for Tenants.
Recovery Information Sessions for Flood-Impacted Residents
As Ottawa transitions from response to recovery following the July 1 extreme weather event, the City and its community partners are hosting information sessions to help residents navigate the next phase of cleanup, rebuilding, and support services.
Representatives from the City of Ottawa, Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, and the Nepean, Rideau and Osgoode Community Resource Centre (NROCRC) will be available to answer questions and provide guidance on topics including insurance claims, financial assistance programs, health and safety when cleaning flooded homes, waste disposal, counselling and wellness supports, and access to community resources.
Upcoming sessions:
Nepean Sportsplex (Richmond Room)
📅 Friday, July 17
🕓 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
📍 1701 Woodroffe Avenue
Ben Franklin Place
📅 Saturday, July 18
🕚 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 101 Centrepointe Drive
Free parking is available at both locations.
Residents seeking information, resources, or support related to flood recovery are encouraged to attend. These sessions provide an opportunity to connect directly with experts and organizations that can assist with the recovery process.
Canadian Red Cross Recovery Supports
The Canadian Red Cross is providing one-on-one recovery assistance for Ottawa residents affected by the July 1 flooding. Working alongside the City of Ottawa and community partners, the Red Cross can help individuals and families assess their situation, understand available supports and plan their next steps toward recovery.
Through its Case Management program, the Red Cross offers personalized guidance on returning home safely, navigating insurance claims, accessing community resources, understanding recovery options, and connecting with insurance, construction, and other recovery experts. The program can also provide referrals to additional services where needed.
Residents seeking assistance can contact the Canadian Red Cross by emailing [email protected] or by leaving a voicemail at 1-800-863-6582. The Red Cross has advised that all inquiries will receive a response within 48–72 hours.
For more information, visit the Canadian Red Cross 2026 Ottawa Floods webpage.
For any Ward 9 residents who were not impacted by this storm, please consider contributing to the Canadian Red Cross. Donations will be used to provide assistance to those who were impacted.
Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse Canada is an international disaster response organization that recently deployed to Ottawa when the City requested their support. They send volunteers led by trained disaster response crews to assist residents with flood clean-up and debris removal. They have established a base of operations at The Metropolitan Bible Church, and they will be sending out crews to commence clean-up operations in Ward 9 and other impacted areas starting tomorrow.
There has been some public discussion about this faith-based organization, as well as my involvement in getting them to come to Ottawa. If anyone wishes to read my statement on this matter, they may find the statement here.
Residents who may wish to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse may register at the organization’s website.
Flood-impacted residents who may wish to use Samaritan’s Purse’s services may do so by calling 1-844-547-2663. Please note that Samaritan’s Purse prioritizes their services based on severity of damage and the residents’ available resources, and they will do an assessment.
Storm-related debris collection update - Contact 3-1-1
We know that residents are moving through the clean-up process at different speeds. While some are ready to dispose of flood-damaged materials, others are still working through insurance assessments, documenting damage, or making decisions about repairs.
Beginning Monday, residents will be encouraged to submit a service request to 3-1-1 when they are ready for pickup. This helps us know when assistance is needed and allows crews to respond when it makes the most sense for each household. You can submit a service request for garbage collection online or call 3-1-1.
Dedicated collection vehicles will remain assigned to the impacted wards, and once a service request is submitted, crews will work to collect materials in a timely fashion.
Trail Waste Facility Landfill
The Trail Waste Facility Landfill will be open on Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. Information on reimbursement for eligible residents who have already paid storm-related waste disposal fees at the Trail Waste Facility Landfill is now available on Ottawa.ca. The information outlines how to submit a reimbursement request, required supporting documentation, and anticipated processing timelines.
What happened at this week’s Council Meeting
At this Wednesday’s very long (8.5 hrs) Council meeting, City staff gave an extensive presentation on the Canada Day extreme weather event. Each of the councillors from the hardest-hit wards – including myself – brought specific Motions and Inquiries, whether to advance specific solutions, or to find out what happened, and how the City responded.
I will provide a more detailed explanation of some of these Motions and Inquiries in my July 21 Ward 9 Newsletter, but wanted to provide a very brief overview here of the two Motions that I brought to Council, each of which passed unanimously.
The first Motion directed staff to undertake a focused review of the disproportionate flooding impacts experienced in Wards 7, 8 and 9 during the July 1 storm. The goal is to better understand recurring flooding patterns, assess watershed and infrastructure performance, examine concerns related to drainage and development, and identify opportunities to make our communities more resilient to future extreme weather events. With Council's approval, these priorities will now help guide and inform the City's ongoing flood review.
The second Motion focuses on the insurance industry, which is now having to come up with solutions on how to mitigate the financial impact that an increase in extreme weather events is having on their industry. I learned that between 2001 – 2010, the average annual total payouts on weather-related claims was $700 million, but that figure jumped to $8.5 billion in 2024. In other words, the industry may be motivated to help come up with solutions. My motion seeks to explore opportunities for the City of Ottawa to engage with the insurance sector on flood resilience, climate adaptation, and risk reduction. The goal is to identify emerging best practices, partnerships, data sources, and potential tools that can help reduce future flood risks and better protect our communities.
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That’s it for now. As always, please continue to communicate with my office. If you’re aware of a neighbour that needs assistance, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]
Thanks, and be kind.
Sean