Adding up the costs of flooding
Published Thursday November 12th, 2009
SAINT JOHN - Hasell Kerr has two files, inches think, that contain lists of belongings that were damaged or destroyed in two storms. The folders are stacked with reams of insurance documents and descriptions of events that cost her thousands of dollars.
One folder is dedicated to tropical storm Hanna, the first tempest that flooded Kerr's Donaldson Street home in Millidgeville since she and her husband, Bill, moved in about nine years ago. Hanna destroyed walls in Kerr's basement, floors, books, clothing and furniture, among other valuables.
The final tab to replace what was lost was $31,000, with the insurance company covering about $19,000 of that amount. The bill wasn't the last that she'd have to cover in the wake of a storm - and she's worried there will be more.
Kerr said she wanted to know what the city is going to do about the damage and prevent further havoc in the future.
"We want them to meet with us and tell us exactly what the problem is. We want a timetable of when it's going to be fixed. And we would like to see that done before Peel Plaza is erected," Kerr said, referring to the development that includes a proposed new police station and parking garage in the city centre.
"If they spend $45 million on Peel Plaza instead of fixing these drains we will be mad as hatters. It's just a ridiculous thought."
City staff recently filed reports with common council that outlined their response to flooding concerns in several problem areas of the city.
The staff said they have interviewed a number of homeowners and speculated the flooding may have been linked to sewer system backlogs. There is a drainage basin next to Kerr's home.
City staff also said they had prepared a request for proposals to conduct a study of the area next year and would request funding from council to carry out the needed work.
In other areas of the city, remedial work is further along. In the Milford area, for example, the city has already commissioned an engineering study and expected to release the results next month.
In the Brentwood Crescent area, some remedial projects have either been finished or expected to be complete next year, with plans for other projects in the future.
Mayor Ivan Court said the city was taking the most appropriate steps to ease flooding concerns.
"We're trying to solve the problems for all those who have flooding problems today," Court said. "This has been going on for 40 years or even longer than that."
Kerr said she hadn't received any updates on what the city is doing to solve the problem in her north end neighbourhood, although she had spoken with an engineer about what had happened. She said the only other recent development in her flooding woes was that she had finished replacing a basement floor after tropical storm Danny destroyed it.
"We're all retirees and so we scraped and saved for retirement for how many years and now it's out with the bath tub water - it makes you angry," Kerr said.
Kerr's second folder is filled with documents linked to damages caused by flooding in the wake of tropical storm Danny earlier this year. The damages weren't as severe, about $8,000 worth, because she and her husband were better prepared.
After Hanna, the couple elevated their basement furniture with wooden and Styrofoam blocks and installed insulation in their walls a few inches above the floor to prevent further damage.
Still, Danny filled part of their basement with about two inches of water.
"If there was something that we could do about it, we could get on and do that. But neighbours have inquired about sump pumps, they've done back valves, they've done drainage tiles and they still get the flooding," Kerr said.
"It's about the insecurity in your own home. It used be that your home was a safe haven and you block the weather out, but you can't do that any more."
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I can give you answers.
1. SJ has continued to develope within floodplain,wetand, and riparian areas without consideration for natural flow patterns of surface water or the absorptive properties of natural areas. These areas have been cumulatively hardened off without foresight.
2. It's within the City's ability to stop developments that are poorly conceived and often contrary to provincial environmental laws. They choose not to. $$ and cronyism pulls rank on reponsibility.
3. The Province will not enforce violations of water regulations and really facilitate environmental degradation which leads to flooding and property damage.
4. The City plans will be to either a) harden off more natural areas or b) dig big ponds in efforts to slow the flood issue. Neither will "fix" the problem.
I,m sorry but with climate change and likely more poorly planned development the area will only get worse.