'Unprecedented' flooding kills one and floods basements in Glencoe, Ont.
“Unprecedented” is the word most residents of Glencoe Ont. are using to describe heavy rains.
Gauges in the community hit as high as 200 mm (just shy of 8”) Wednesday.
The heaviest rain fell in the evening, overwhelming Glencoe’s Main and some secondary roads.
But sadly, the power of Mother Nature was most evident less than 10 kilometres north of town.
A portion of Dundonald Road, a key access route to Lambton County communities, washed out.
Moments after the collapse, a transport truck loaded with a chemical compound crashed into the opening.
“It was a pretty horrific scene,” said OPP Const. Jeff Hare.
Emergency responders could do little to help the transport operator.
“There was a lone transport truck that had fallen inside. Unfortunately, because of the injuries sustained in the collision, the driver succumbed at the scene," Hare told CTV News.
Dundonald Road after collision in Middlesex County, Ont. on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)Police later stated the driver was a 59-year-old Mississauga resident.
As road crews worked to secure the damaged roadway, police confirmed it would remain closed for at least a couple of weeks.
Back in Glencoe, there was shock about the death and the overall power of Mother Nature.
Trevor Sinclair was firing up his generator after flooding knocked out power to his home. He said the water came inside quickly.
“Saw a bit of water, and next thing you know we decided to move some stuff to the garage, and when we got back inside it was too late. Everything was just covered in water.”
As he backed away,Sinclair snapped pictures of the water flowing into his basement. One showed it reaching toilet height in a bathroom. He then knew it was time to surrender to the storm.
“Within about two hours, it was up over three feet, over the receptacles about table height.”
A flooded bathroom in the basement of Trevor Sinclair's Glencoe, Ont. home on Aug. 23, 2023. (Source: Trevor Sinclair)Sean Boucher of Pillar Restoration said water had filled multiple basements in Glencoe.
His firm and others were busy in communities including West Elgin, Dutton-Dunwich, Warwick, and Adelaide-Metcalfe.
“In some of the places, houses and their foundations have two feet or more of water. You know sump pumps cannot keep up with it,” said Boucher.
Near the downtown core of Glencoe, John and Sharon Angel were busy pumping water out of their crawl space. The couple said it flooded quickly.
“Well, I walked around here and it was over my knees,” John stated as he pointed to the lawn around his home.
“That’s when we realized we’re in trouble,” shared Sharon, who later added the couple prayed when they realized there was nothing they could do.
The flooded Main Street of Glencoe, Ont. during heavy rains on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023 (Sean Irvin / CTV News London)At the same time, their neighbour, Alex Lalama, was fighting a losing battle in his finished basement.
“It was like Niagara Falls coming out the back step. All the backyard was flooded. There was water up to the ceiling in the basement by the end of it,” said Lalama.
Damage estimates for the entire community will take some time to compile but losses, including damage to area farm fields, are expected to be significant, according to Southwest Middlesex Mayor Allan Mayhew.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6440025.1686699142!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Bank investigator' fraud spreading in eastern Ontario: What it is and how to avoid it
Ontario Provincial Police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are warning people about fraudsters impersonating major Canadian banks.
BREAKING German police make second arrest over stabbing attack
Police made a second arrest on Saturday in their investigation of a deadly stabbing in the western German city of Solingen, a spokesperson said.
Chappell Roan's comments about invasive fans show that we never really know our favourite celebrities
She started by singing covers on YouTube over 10 years ago, using her real name, before she earned a record deal out of high school. Her debut single, 'Pink Pony Club,' was released in 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her album came out almost a year ago to positive reviews and a small but dedicated fanbase.
SpaceX to return Boeing's Starliner astronauts from space next year, NASA says
Two NASA astronauts who flew to the International Space Station in June aboard Boeing's faulty Starliner capsule will need to return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA officials said on Saturday, deeming issues with Starliner's propulsion system too risky to carry its first crew home as planned.
OPINION The dark side of frugality: When saving becomes an obsession
Is being frugal pushing you over the edge? Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew explains some of the downsides of obsessive frugality and offers some tips on how to balance frugal living with living your daily life.
A rare but deadly mosquito virus infection has Massachusetts towns urging vigilance
A rare but deadly disease spread by mosquitoes has one town in Massachusetts closing its parks and fields each evening. Four other towns are urging people to avoid going outdoors at night.
Shohei Ohtani is baseball's fastest 40-40 man and has time to become the first member of 50-50 club
Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani hit a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning for his 40th homer after earlier stealing his 40th base, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. He is the sixth player ever to reach 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season.
Justin and Hailey Bieber welcome a baby boy, Jack Blues
Justin Bieber, who rose to international stardom in 2010 with his hit 'Baby,' has welcomed one of his own with his wife, Hailey Bieber (nee Baldwin).
Watchdog clears police of criminal offences in handling of Lumby, B.C., death
British Columbia's police watchdog group has closed its investigation of a woman's death in April in Lumby, B.C., saying it did not find any evidence of a criminal offence in officers' handling of the case.