LaSalle Residents Should Prepare for Overland Flooding
Overland flooding is a real concern in the Town of LaSalle. Current preliminary information for the month of March 2020 indicates that Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie will finish with monthly averages that are roughly 21 cm and 29 cm above their respective monthly averages for March 2019. Should these values be confirmed, then these averages would be 3 cm and 7 cm higher than previous monthly average records set in 1986.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority Advises that, due to record high lake levels, a Flood Watch is in effect for all shoreline areas within the Essex Region, including Pelee Island. Areas of potential concern are the low lying beach communities and shoreline areas along Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River including LaSalle, and Lake Erie. Unless superseded by a Flood Warning, this Flood Watch will remain in effect until further notice.
Residents living near and along the Detroit River (along Front Road and west of Front Road) are at risk of flooding and significant nearshore erosion. LaSalle is most affected by northeast/east winds. Forecasts will be continuously monitored with updates provided as required. It should be noted that water levels are not anticipated to peak until June-July 2020. Therefore, it is now the time for residents to take proper caution especially near shoreline areas where conditions can change quickly based on wind speed and direction.
Sandbags and sand are available free of charge for LaSalle residents at the former Centennial Arena site (2160 Old Front Road, behind the Goodwill Donation Centre), and at the LaSalle Public Works building (2170 Judy Recker Cres.). Residents must bring their own shovels and fill the sandbags on their own. Visit www.ontario.ca/page/floods for information about the proper way to sandbag. As advised by the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, when filling sandbags, please keep physical distancing in mind and stay 6 feet away from anyone else who may be filling sandbags.
It is also very important that you plan ahead and have a place to go should an evacuation take place. In these uncertain times it is not advisable to open reception centres; doing so could increase the spread of COVID-19. Plan now where you can go so that you and your loved ones can be as safe as possible. Have a plan for:
- What you will bring with you
- Where you will park your car
- What you will do with your pets
- Be sure to register for LaSalle Alerts so that we can send messages to you in times of emergency like floods. You choose how we contact you: text, cellphone, email and/or landline.
The Town of LaSalle’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is in the partial activation level which includes our Senior Management Group, and we continue to meet twice a week to discuss the current and expected flooding conditions.
