Floodwaters that are receding in London are still making their way to Chatham-Kent.
At this point, officials with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority are holding to their previous estimate that the flooding along the Thames River will peak in Thamesville Friday afternoon before the floodwaters make their way to Chatham late Friday. However, residents and businesses in the area should be prepared for potential flooding already Friday morning.
A release from the conservation authority says "based on past flooding events, water levels at the center of the community can be expected to be between 0.3m and 0.5m deep," adding that those depths "would be somewhere between what was experienced in 2008/2009 and the 1977 flood." As the peak of the water levels moves through the region, water is also expected to back up local creeks in the Thamesville area and cause additional flooding.
Those flooding concerns have also led officials with the local public and Catholic boards to shut down Good Shepherd Catholic School and Thamesville Area Central Public School for Friday, February 23. School officials are also cancelling all bus routes to Ursuline College Catholic Secondary School, Lambton Kent Composite School, Chatham-Kent Secondary School, and Ridgetown District High School that travel within the limits of the Thamesville area. The Thamesville and Area Early Learning Centre will also be closed on Friday due to flood concerns.
In Chatham, the water levels along the Thames River are also expected to rise significantly and could be on par with the previous floods recorded in 1977 and 1968. Conservation officials say based on their readings so far, the additional water that's coming in could boost current water levels another 1.3m to 1.6m in Chatham. LTVCA staff said Thursday the water levels were already up 3.3m in the Chatham area.
For residents and businesses who may want to purchase sandbags, LTVCA officials say you can find some at the Lloyd Bag Company, 114 St. Clair St. in Chatham.
The flooding along the Thames River is also expected to affect other smaller waterways throughout the region as the high water levels from the river are now currently backing them up and causing additional flooding.
While the peak of the flooding is expected to pass by Saturday afternoon, high water levels are expected to remain in place throughout the Lower Thames region until early next week.
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Flood Warning Continues For Sydenham River Watershed
At the same time, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) says even though "water levels on the Sydenham River and its tributaries are slowly receding after extensive rain and snowmelt earlier in the week," they are continuing a flood warning for the Wallaceburg-area.
The SCRCA says water levels on the east branch of the Sydenham River are still "significant." Localized flooding is also still taking place in the Strathroy and Petrolia areas with water pooling in low lying areas, mostly in agricultural, parkland, and floodplain areas.
Conservation officials say the McKeough Dam is still closed to reduce potential flooding in Wallaceburg and they are keeping a close eye on the potential for ice jamming and minor flooding above the jams in the north branch of the Sydenham River.
Anyone who needs additional support is being urged to contact the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.