Support and Resources for Residents Affected by the Ottawa Flooding
Alongside fellow Ottawa MPPs and City Councillors, I signed an open letter calling on the provincial government to immediately deploy the Provincial Disaster Assessment Team to Ottawa and, if the criteria are met, activate the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program.
The Canada Day storm caused significant flooding, damaged homes and businesses, and left thousands without power. No family should be left to face the financial burden of a natural disaster alone. Kanata-Carleton residents deserve timely support to recover and rebuild.
As Ottawa continues to recover from the Canada Day flooding, I want to ensure residents know where to turn for practical support.
For questions about home or property insurance, the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Consumer Information Centre can provide general guidance on coverage and the claims process.
Call: 1-844-227-5422
1-844-2ASK-IBC
Residents whose homes were affected should document all damage, contact their insurance provider as soon as possible, and take care during cleanup.
Additional flood recovery information is available at ottawa.ca.
If your home was affected by the July 1 flooding and you are experiencing difficulties resolving an insurance claim, free and independent assistance may be available.
The General Insurance OmbudService helps Canadians resolve disputes with property and casualty insurance providers. You must first try to resolve the matter directly with your insurer. If you are not satisfied with the insurer’s final decision, the OmbudService may be able to assist.
Services are available in English and French, with interpretation available by phone.
Contact the General Insurance OmbudService:
https://giocanada.org/contact/
Learn more about assistance related to the Ottawa flooding:
Canadian Red Cross Flood Recovery Support
The Canadian Red Cross is providing personalized recovery support to individuals and families affected by the July 1 flooding. Assistance may include help understanding insurance, referrals to community services, guidance from construction and insurance experts, and support planning next steps.
Residents can contact the Red Cross at NavigationSupportON@redcross.ca or 1-800-863-6582.
Learn more about available support and flood recovery resources
City of Ottawa support programs
The City of Ottawa has created a dedicated page outlining financial assistance and other support available to residents affected by the July 1 storm.
This includes the Compassionate Grant, which may provide a $1,000 payment to eligible residential property owners or tenants who experienced basement flooding caused by sewer surcharging.
Residents must report the flooding to the City within one month of the incident and meet the program’s eligibility and documentation requirements.
Support programs:
https://ottawa.ca/en/health-and-public-safety/emergency-preparedness/current-and-ongoing-emergencies/extreme-weather-event-july-1/support-programs
Compassionate Grant details and application:
https://ottawa.ca/en/living-ottawa/environment-conservation-and-climate/flooding/basement-flooding/flooding-rebates-and-grant/compassionate-grant-program
The City’s current support page also includes updated DRAO information, including the November 16, 2026 application deadline and information about possible advance payments for eligible applicants who cannot afford repair costs upfront.
Flood cleanup, health and safety
Floodwater may contain sewage, debris and other contaminants. Ottawa Public Health and the City provide information on safely cleaning flooded homes, disposing of spoiled food, protecting private well water and managing the emotional effects of a stressful event.
This would strengthen the current sentence telling residents to “take care during cleanup” by providing a direct practical resource.
Hydro Ottawa outage information
Residents can view current outages, restoration updates and estimated restoration times through Hydro Ottawa’s outage centre:
https://hydroottawa.com/en/residential/outages-safety/outage-centre
The map provides information on planned and unplanned outages and is regularly updated.
Places to cool off during extreme heat
Residents without air conditioning or whose homes remain unsafe following flooding can find public places to cool off through Ottawa Public Health:
https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/extreme-heat-and-humidity.aspx
The page includes libraries, community centres, pools, splash pads and other public facilities, although locations and operating hours may change
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Residents affected by the July 1 storm who are not receiving Ontario Works or ODSP may be eligible for Emergency Assistance if they are facing an emergency and do not have sufficient financial resources or other available supports, such as insurance.
Residents can apply online or call 3-1-1 and select Community and Social Services.
Residents already receiving Ontario Works or ODSP may be eligible for additional support related to the storm, including assistance with replacing food lost due to power outages or flooding. Residents should contact their caseworker or call 3-1-1 for more information.
STORM-RELATED WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
Residents can request collection of storm-related waste beyond the regular three-item limit by submitting a service request to the City or calling 3-1-1.
Residents with a basement flooding or storm-related waste service request may also be able to dispose of eligible storm-damaged materials at the Trail Waste Facility without disposal fees.
More information:
DISASTER RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FOR ONTARIANS
Residents seeking information about Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians can contact the program directly at:
1-877-822-0116
disasterassistance@ontario.ca
More information:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-disaster-recovery-assistance
