USO Calls on Government Officials to Count the Cost of Lake Ontario Flooding

Mar 12, 2020

Canadian Yachting OnBoard is sharing this press release from United Shoreline Ontario, a grassroots community-based organization with the mandate of uniting the residents and municipalities of the north shore of Lake Ontario in one voice, because we know many of our readers are people who may be affected by Lake Ontario high water levels.
These effects can damage property and reduce boat usage. Our readers may want to refer to the attached research information or to enter into dialogue with these organizations.

DID YOU KNOW

Flooding on Lake Ontario disproportionally disadvantages the elderly, those without the means to combat the damage or to insure their homes? Since the beginning of February, United Shoreline Ontario has conducted an informal survey of more than 700 shoreline households in Ontario and New York State to paint a picture of the impact of the flooding and residents’ ability to mitigate it.“ United Shoreline Ontario wants to better understand and record the human toll of the damaging 2017 and 2019 high water, flooding and erosion, “said Sarah Delicate, USO President, “We are calling on government agencies in both countries to conduct a formal survey to count the cost of this devastation to their constituents.”

WHAT USO FOUND:

View the results 

Ontario Fact Sheet 

New York Fact Sheet

WHAT THEY SAID: “I’m facing the reality that I can lose my home, and we don’t have enough money to start over.”

“We are a retired couple with health issues. We are financially and emotionally drained. We have both worked in the service industry for over 50 years in Ontario, and now we face complete bankruptcy because of 2017 and 2019.” “We’re over 70 and only have a car with capacity of maybe 10 bags. So far we have placed over 300 bags with no support whatsoever. It’s been a struggle and painful.”

TAKE THE SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lakeontarioflooding

ABOUT US: United Shoreline Ontario’s (USO) objective is to engage governments and private homeowners towards the protection of lakeshore homes, families, businesses, emergency responders and municipalities from violent or widespread lake surge flooding. This flooding is predicted with the implementation of Plan 2014 and the implications of climate change.