The Town of Essex is providing free sandbags to residents in preparation of overland flooding.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority has issued a long-term flood watch for the entire region. The authority said this is the fifth year of rising and high lake levels in the Windsor-Essex region, and current information suggests Lake St. Clair is 21 centimetres above its respective average. Lake Erie is 29 centimetres above.
Residents can call 519-776-7336 ext 1124 to request bags for their properties. Up to 100 empty bags will be delivered to the resident's property by town staff.
Sand is available at the Colchester Schoolhouse (195 Bagot Street, Colchester) and residents are required to bring their own shovels and fill their own bags.
Anyone who attends the schoolhouse is reminded to adhere to physical distancing requirements and limit group sizes.