**** HRM Media Release
Municipal update on flood impacts
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following updates and impacts to municipal services as a result of flooding.
Residents can register for automated notifications by signing up for hfxALERT, Subscribers to hfxALERT will receive timely alerts by phone, email, and/or text message. Standard text messaging rates apply.
Municipal officials provide update on flooding
Mayor Mike Savage and municipal officials will be providing an update on the ongoing flood response today at 2:30 p.m. Residents can watch the livestream here.
Road Safety
Flash flooding has occurred in numerous areas of the municipality, with many roads washed out and impassable. Water is receding, but there are still flooded areas.
Motorcyclists and cyclists should use extra caution with debris on the road and should not drive on the shoulders of the road as many are compromised.
Residents can refer to this map which shows blocked roads and infrastructure damage.
Registry
Residents who cannot leave their properties due to road and culvert damage are encouraged to register at halifax.ca/flooding-registry. Registering will assist in identifying critical needs of residents so that the municipality can follow up with relevant resources. Residents can anticipate a follow-up email or phone call within 24 hours of registering, with subsequent phone calls as needed. If further assistance is required to complete the online registration, residents can contact 311.
Flooding
Flooding is extensive, and crews are doing assessments of roads, buildings and infrastructure. Bridges will require structural assessment before they can be opened, and water levels must be at normal level in order to complete.
Operations staff are focusing on clearing roads and removing debris from the right-of-way to open roads to make them safe and allow emergency access. Inspection staff are actively assessing areas and determining damage, with 278 open service requests received to date, while 195 service requests have been closed.
The municipality is working with Halifax Water and the Province of Nova Scotia, along with other partners, to coordinate and prioritize necessary repairs to infrastructure.
Repairs will be extensive and will need to be prioritized. Priority areas will be completed first with other areas to follow. Some repairs will take several days or weeks. Additional information on repair scheduling will be provided once all assessments are completed.
Emergency flooding calls are to be directed to Halifax Water at 902.420.9287. Call volumes remain high and residents are asked for their patience. Residents who notice damage to roads and infrastructure are asked to report it to 311 or email hrm_emo@halifax.ca.
The Halifax Water system is safe to drink. Residents can also refer to resources on novascotia.ca/storm-support.
Evacuation Centres
The East Dartmouth Community Centre evacuation centre has closed. Residents with urgent needs or who need to evacuate may call 311. 311 will connect residents with an after-hours service provider.
Solid Waste
Starting Wednesday, July 26 and continuing until Friday, August 4, garbage set out limits will be increased from six to eight bags of garbage. Each bag of garbage may be substituted for one bundle of flood related debris. Normal collection requirements still apply, including bundle weight (up to 75 pounds) and size (less than 4 feet) limits, and the collection of one bulky item (e.g. couch), one privacy bag (with the remainder being clear bags) per garbage collection cycle. For more information, visit our website.
Curbside collection is underway where roads are passable. Residents are reminded that collection services can begin as early as 7 a.m. To ensure collection, materials may be placed curbside the evening prior to collection day.
Weekly green cart collection is underway. Please separate food from packages and place any spoiled food in the green cart.
For excess food waste, public drop off bins are available to residents at the Ragged Lake Organics Facility (61 Evergreen Place) and Burnside Composting Facility (80 Gloria McCluskey Avenue) Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Residents are asked to separate food from containers. Please follow facility staff instructions. No glass is allowed.
Flood related demolition, construction and renovation debris (e.g., wood, drywall, carpet, etc.) can be taken to Halifax C&D Recycling (located at 16 Mills Drive, Goodwood and 188 Ross Road, Cole Harbour). Please note that fees apply. For hours of operation, visit: halifaxcdrecycling.ca.
Residents looking to self-haul garbage exceeding curbside limits may take their waste to the Otter Lake Waste Facility (600 Otter Lake Drive, Lakeside). Please note that tipping fees apply. See Otter Lake Waste Facility hours of operation.
Parks & Recreation
For the latest updates on natural turf sports fields, ball diamonds, and all-weather fields, visit our website.
Water levels remain high in lake areas from the significant rainfall, and residents should use caution as the excessive flooding can contribute to higher bacteria levels in the water. These higher levels can come from a number of sources, including runoff and sewage bypass practices that are used in some areas during flooding events.
Recreation centres are mostly open, but some located in the impacted areas may be closed. Residents should call ahead to their recreation facility.
For more information, follow @hfxgov on Twitter, or visit: halifax.ca/flood
