WHITEWATER REGION – With water levels sufficiently receded to allow construction access, emergency repairs to impacted municipal roads are now underway to allow vehicular access by emergency services and affected residents.
The Westmeath & District Recreation Association (WDRA) has formed a Flood Recovery Resource Committee that will work with the community on behalf of the Township to identify needs, coordinate and prioritize resources, including outside agencies such as Team Rubicon and Mennonite Disaster Services. We ask those who wish to volunteer or self-identify for support to contact Committee Member Vince Gervais, visit the Relief Centre at the arena, or fill out the request form at Team Rubicon’s website at https://forms.gle/ufPueCQUokjXLDWe9. Priority will be to ensure residents have a safe place to live, food and access to essential services.
Monetary donations to WDRA are accepted at the Township of Whitewater Region and are eligible for a tax receipt. All funds will be allocated to the Resource Committee.
Team Rubicon Canada is a volunteer-based charity that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders. Rubicon has partnered with the Township of Whitewater Region in order to assist with data collection and management during the recovery process. Residents of both primary and seasonal properties are encouraged to specify whether the damage is interior or exterior and give specifics on what is damaged. Once this data has been collected, it will be used by the Township and the Resource Committee for remediation planning, prioritization, and resourcing.
A Recovery Information Fair is planned for Sunday, June 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. on the Westmeath Rink Slab. This open house event will focus on the immediate recovery effort to allow affected residents to get information and resources on roads, debris management, building code, zoning, property assessment, with representation from other agencies dealing with public health, mental health, financial assistance, etc. Please note MPP John Yakabuski is planning a public engagement session in Westmeath at a later date with details to follow.
Waste bins for flood debris are deployed at the Westmeath Garage (1798 Westmeath Road) and LaPasse Boat Launch (170 Lacroix Bay Road). Bins will be placed in the Lacroix Bay area next week at the earliest. Flood debris will also be accepted and kept separate at the landfill at 990 Kohlsmith Road during regular hours of operation (Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) for disposal without charge. Sandbags should not be placed in the waste bins, but can be deposited next to them. Sandbags can also be returned to the point of which they were picked up. They will also be accepted at the landfill.
Due to the large number of residences affected by the recent flooding, Whitewater Region and the Renfrew County District Health Unit are partnering to help create a more convenient water sampling process for affected residents. Kenny’s Store located at 2164 Westmeath Road in Westmeath will be designated as a temporary drop off location for your water sampling bottles. The Health Unit has agreed to pick up samples on Monday and Wednesday at 3 p.m. at this location until further notice. All water samples must be taken on the same day they are dropped off. Please accurately follow the sampling guidelines that are attached to your water sampling bottle.
The Relief Centre at the Westmeath Hall will remain open this weekend to support our affected residents and any support forces, providing coffee/tea/snacks plus lunch and supper including pick-up meals for our isolated residents. If you would like to donate food or your time please contact the hall during operating hours to sign up at 613-587-4559.
