The latest information as the GTA cleans up from major summer storm
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- Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and city manager Paul Johnson are holding a news conference to update residents on the flood cleanup. You can watch it live in the player above.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is urging anyone dealing with flooding in their home to contact the city’s 311 line and warning people to stay away from rivers and ravines on Wednesday.
“Toronto is resilient,” Chow said, after thanking city and TTC crews who worked through the night to get the city moving again.
Most major commuter routes are running normally Wednesday after a severe summer storm drenched the GTA, causing significant flooding and widespread power outages.
The region’s two major electrical utilities, Toronto Hydro and Hydro One, are reporting that around 5,000 customers remain in the dark, mainly in Etobicoke and Brampton.
An early morning statement from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority says their flood warnings have been downgraded, but caution is still required around all bodies of water.
According to preliminary figures from Environment and Climate Change Canada, 97.8 millimetres of rain fell at Pearson International Airport, while 83.6 millimetres fell on the downtown core of Toronto in just a few hours. About 87 millimetres were recorded at Billy Bishop airport on Toronto’s waterfront.
Many parts of Toronto, especially low-lying areas closer to Lake Ontario, saw devastating flooding.
Toronto Fire said it received roughly 1,700 calls for service and dispatched crews to around 500 incidents between 6 a.m. ET and 3 p.m. Tuesday, including some 50 elevator rescues and more than 50 other flooding-related calls. Firefighters also helped more than 20 people trapped in vehicles and buildings that were flooded.
While making a stop in Toronto, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he is thinking of the residents who were affected by the significant storm that caused flooding across the city on Tuesday.
Some traffic closures still in place
The deluge caused commuter havoc, with the wet weather shutting down several major routes, including Toronto’s Union Station, Lake Shore Boulevard and the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), an essential north-south corridor into the downtown core.
Low-lying areas of the DVP were inundated after the adjacent Don River burst its banks, and dozens of vehicles had to be abandoned in the floodwaters.
All three critical commuter routes have since fully reopened.
The eastbound Gardiner Expressway is also open from Jarvis Street to the DVP.
Bayview Avenue remains closed between Moore Avenue and River Street for clean-up efforts.
River Street is similarly closed between Gerrard Street and Bayview Avenue, and Rosedale Valley Road is shut down both ways from Bayview to Park Road.
Changes on GO’s Richmond Hill Line
GO Transit says service on its Richmond Hill Line will be altered Wednesday.
“The tracks near the Don River remain impassable due to flooding,” the transit agency said.
“As a result, trains will make all stops down to Langstaff GO, and then will detour to Union Station. This will add an additional 30 minutes of travel time.”
The detour means to trains will be stopping at Old Cummer and Oriole stations. Customers who typically use those stations are encouraged to take the TTC instead. You can find more details about options here.
TDSB schools open for summer programming
Late Tuesday evening, the Toronto District School Board said at least 20 schools were without power and some schools may have been affected by flooding.
However on Wednesday, the board said all schools being used for summer school, child care and camps appeared to have power restored.
The board said it would continue to monitor facilities for flood damage, but all schools will be open for programming.
More information is available on the TDSB website.
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