Horton residents filling sandbags (Township of Horton photo)
Horton’s mayor says the community deserves a lot of credit this spring for taking lessons learned from past flooding to heart.
Daina Proctor says residents are doing what they do best by rallying around each other and planning ahead as high water levels along the Ottawa River present different problems depending on where along the township’s 20 kilometres of shoreline they live.
Township staff have stressed the importance of knowing how a flood could affect homes, neighbourhoods, and the surrounding area when preparing for potential flooding, and Proctor is pleased that residents are following through with strategic sandbag placement around vulnerable homes affected by flooding in 2017, 2019, and 2023.
Water levels have remained fairly steady in the area this week, but Proctor remains in contact with community members to see what the township can do to provide more sand and other assistance should conditions get worse and homes on the shoreline need to be evacuated.
Some of those conversations have been with the owners’ associations of seven private laneways directly on the shore in neighbourhoods between Toweys Bay and Blackburn Bay, as the river has seeped onto those roads, making travel difficult for smaller vehicles.
Proctor notes that the township is primarily focused on their year-round residents, but she is also welcoming cottagers concerned by potential flooding but unable to be there to get in contact so that staff and community members can lend a hand.
The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board’s next forecast for flooding is expected on Thursday morning. Proctor and other municipal leaders are expected to update residents on next steps at that time.
(written by Kasey Egan)
