Flooding leads to state of emergency in Brantford, Ont.

The City of Brantford has declared a state of Emergency due to the ongoing flooding crisis impacting the neighbourhoods of Holmedale, Old West Brant and Eagle Place. Public in those areas are STRONGLY URGED to evacuate immediately. Evacuation Details: https://t.co/HfpxaZ3q86

— @CityofBrantford

A state of emergency was declared today in Brantford, Ont., after parts of the city were evacuated due to flooding along the Grand River.

The city made the announcement Wednesday morning, noting there is ongoing flooding in the neighbourhoods of Holmedale, Old West Brant and Eagle Place. Anyone living in those areas was urged to evacuate their homes.

"Buses are available to help evacuate @ Eagle Ave & Foster St., Baldwin & Erie Ave, Erie & Aberdeen Ave. Those requiring shelter can go to Woodman Comm. Centre," the tweet advised.

Police are going door-to-door in the affected neighbourhoods, asking people to leave immediately.

Those who live in the areas identified in the floodplain map attached are strongly urged to evacuate. @BrantfordPolice are going door to evacuate the following streets Foster, Cayuga, Aberdeen, Strathcona, Pontiac, Tecumseh, Ontario, Port, Eagle Ave, Robertson, Denver and Baldwin pic.twitter.com/j5AkP734QT

— @CityofBrantford

Jeff Whitbread was one of the residents who left his home. He told CBC News that the process seemed to be handled well.

"The police and services have been around our neighbourhood and talked to all the residents and its very calm. It seems to be pretty well organized.

"We're just going to pick up a few things and head on out to a friend's house."

Parts of Brantford are under an evacuation order because of rising water levels. (Annie Poulin/Radio-Canada)

The Grand River Conservation Authority said Wednesday morning "an ice jam upstream of Parkhill Dam released at approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday morning. When this ice jam released, it sent a surge of water downstream."

The agency warned the public in a post on its website to exercise extreme caution around all water bodies.

"Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery at this time and, when combined with current weather conditions, pose a serious hazard. Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from all watercourses and off frozen water bodies, which will be extremely unsafe as a result of the warming trend."

Robert Putt, a resident in the evacuation area, said he woke up around 2 a.m. to the sound of trees breaking and snapping. When he got up this morning the water level had increased by about a metre.

"You're hoping not to lose property or value or have things damaged, you certainly don't want to see anyone get hurt," he said.

Putt said he's lived in his house for almost 30 years and has never seen flooding like this.

"It's a large amount of water and large amount of ice."

The following schools are closed because of the flooding:

• Princess Elizabeth.
• Agnes Hodge.
•  Jean Vanier.
• Bellview.
• Ecole Dufferin.
• Ste Marguerite.
• Ste Marie.

Voilà le flot de l’eau et de la glace sur la rivière Grand à Brantford. @matintoronto #floodwarning pic.twitter.com/aXcUUgOanU

— @Annie_Poulin

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Police have been going door-to-door in three Brantford neighbourhoods urging people to leave their homes. (Annie Poulin/CBC)

The Grand River Conservation Authority issued a flood warning Tuesday for townships and cities including:

Town of Grand Valley: Waldemar.
Township of Mapleton: Drayton.
Township of Woolwich: St. Jacobs.
City of Cambridge.
Township of Wilmot: New Hamburg  and Ayr.
City of Brantford.
Town of Cayuga.
Town of Dunnville: Port Maitland.

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