Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., and St. Catharines, Ont., are dealing with localized, massive flooding from a tumultuous overnight storm that dumped overwhelming amounts of rain and prompted work crews to work throughout Tuesday. 

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake said areas around Virgil got pounded with 146 millimetres of highly localized rain between 11:30 p.m. Monday and 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, overwhelming drainage systems that were already under pressure from saturated ground conditions, high lake levels, and full waterways.

The town said many residents, businesses and members of the agricultural community woke up in the morning to flooded properties, damaged crops, and exceptionally high-water levels. 

The municipalities urged residents to be patient as work to clear drainage systems proceeded or flooded systems gradually cleared up, and to be vigilant of the dangers associated with flooding.

“I want you to rest assured that we’re sorry if you’ve been impacted by this,” said Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa on social media Tuesday.

“Our crews have been out since early morning beginning to identify where they can assist and prioritize things. We’ll prioritize and work through the issues as best we can, and our crews are there to help.”

Some properties saw water knee deep or deeper, while neighbouring properties came away unscathed – an indication of how localized some of the rainfall was.

The City of St. Catharines declared a significant weather event Tuesday, saying on Facebook that it was dealing with widespread flooding after a deluge of up to 138 millimetres of rain.

Zalepa said the town had mobilized to help people affected by the storm. Some homes on Four Mile Creek Road just outside of Virgil had water as deep as three feet deep on their front yards and driveways, while on Niagara Stone Road just north of Virgil there was massive flooding in vineyards. In the afternoon, ditches had fast flowing water that made them look like small rivers.

At the NEOB Lavender farm on that road Tuesday afternoon, the main building was nearly encircled by deep water and the farm’s acres of delicate lavender plants were flooded.

Zalepa urged people not to drive over and to steer clear of standing water, saying it’s impossible to know what’s underneath it.

“Don’t try to clear a culvert on your own; it could be really dangerous if it opens up,” Zalepa said.

St. Catharines sports fields were closed and park permits were cancelled on Tuesday. Trails across St. Catharines were also temporarily closed until further notice due to flooding and water damage from the storm.

Niagara District Airport on Niagara Stone Road reported in the afternoon that two of its taxiways were still closed, and that parking was limited due to flooding from the storm. 

‘Essentially going to be going in the garbage’

Local resident Trevor van der Zalm said he woke up around 3 a.m. after his wife noticed water pouring into the basement of their home on Irvine Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“We knew it was raining hard and lightning and thunder like crazy,” he said. “Then we went outside and there was a ton of water everywhere.”

Van der Zalm said as much as 250 millimetres of water flooded the basement. While he said he was fortunate to be able to pump the water out, the damage was irreversible, including carpets, couches and some drywall.

“It’s essentially going to be going in the garbage,” he said.

His house shares the property with the greenhouse of his business, European Planters. That building also took on water, but he was able to avoid crop losses because its flowers are grown on raised benches.

Van der Zalm said one of his neighbours wasn’t as fortunate, with floodwaters causing huge damage.

“They had four greenhouses worth of crop float into one greenhouse and just become a mess,” he said.

Denise and Tyler O’Brien were jolted awake around 3:30 a.m. when they stepped into ankle-deep water in the basement bedroom of their St. Catharines home.

They said the water continued to rise, eventually damaging furniture, electronics, a month-old washer and dryer, and their furnace. Despite the losses, the couple said they’re trying to stay positive.

“We’ve kind of just laughed our way through it a bit. Makes it go a little easier,” Denise told CBC News Tuesday.

Christie Blane didn’t get hit by flooding, but hearing about so many people suffering had her itching to do something. She reached out through a Niagara-on-the-Lake community group on Facebook offering to help anyone with an elderly parent or people who are alone.

“When I saw all the posts today I just felt it was the right thing to do to offer to help, especially for those who might not be able to do not have family,” she told CBC News on Tuesday.

Blane said she’s new to the area “[but] community isn’t about how long you have been here, but showing up for each other.”  

Drinking water remains safe, Niagara-on-the-Lake says

Residents dealing with flooded basements and standing water were asked to contact their insurance company as soon as possible to begin a claim and use pumps, a shop vacuum, or other available equipment to remove water safely, the City of St. Catharines said. As conditions improve, stormwater systems will continue to drain and recover, it said.

“We understand how difficult and concerning this situation is for our community,” the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake also said in a statement.

“Since the early morning hours, crews have been working throughout the municipality to monitor conditions, operate pumping stations, install road closure barricades, respond to flooding concerns, clear hazards such as downed trees, and protect public safety,” the town said.

The town assured residents that the town’s drinking water remains safe. “While some hydrants may be surrounded by floodwater, there have been no watermain failures or interruptions to the municipal drinking water supply,” it said.

People dealing with flooding or sewer backups should report it to the town by phone at 905-468-3266 ext. 0, or submit an online service request, the town said.

The town and city were also both posting updates on social media.