PHARMACY IMitons ndependent Pharmlacvl *'Fr.. Dolv"w Wdkm. Dnig bitauon Avdi" "At Zakla W. Oure 70 Main St. E. 875-2424 AMetroland Community Newspaper Vol. 141 No. 47 Fridav, August 25,2000 ~~ 1A78-2881A. ' 28 Pages $ 1.00 (GST included> Torrents of rain has Reg...ion scrambling By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Halton staff are working to bail out from a severe May rainstorm that buf- feted the area, regional council heard earlier this month. Torrents of rain pounded Halton during the two- day thunderstorm, flooding creeka and homes and backing up sewer systems. 'be stormn was anywhere between a 25 and 50- year storm event but the flood levels that occurred were dloser to a 100-year event," said Halton's Planning Director Pst Murphy. Up to 85 mom of rain were recorded during the tempeat, but higher levels may have been experi- enced in parts of the region. The unprecedented flow has staff scrambling to investigate the causes of flooding as well as their own service procedures. Halton's infiltration allowance - or how much water the systero can bear - waa calculated in the 1970s based on the worst case scenario available at the time. But the spring gusher overfiowed that marker. "There'a no question that the storm event of May 12 and 13 waa extremely taxing," said Halton's Director of Legal Services Mark Meneray. "Ini a normal year, our procedures work very well." Those who worked through the atorm had colourful memnones of it. 'There were houses where cars floated away," deacribed Mr. Murphy. 'There were houses where the water was up to the firat floor window." A report on the flooding will corne hefore coun- cil, but it isn't clear how soon. I can't give a specific date," said Mr. Murphy. "Thiere's a lot of work to be donc." The two-day deluge hit south Halton harder than the north and spawned 180 flood calla to the Region. It also triggered a review of the Region's ex-gratia grant fund -literally ts-anslated as "act of grac." That's available to homeowners experienc- ing localized sewer back-ups. So far, $40.000 has been paîd out of the fund, at an upset limit of $250 per household. But council approved increasing the grant from $250 to $500, retroactive to January, 2000. The wording of the fund will alan he fine-tuned an people have a clearer idea of how it works, said Mr. Meneray. "The original intent was to arrive at an amount which would provide homeowners with the inaurance deductible." Even with ail] that in place, reaidents ahould pur- chaae f'lood insurance as a safeguard, said Burlington Councillor John Taylor. Comment ........ 6 Datolns ....... 10 Litestyls ..15-16 Sports ......20-22 Classifiled .... 23-26 1 m@m m Hswldns Animal Hoi Dr, Debbfr Hawklns Vol. 141 No. 47 Fridav. Auizust 25, 2000