Red Cross Support Sessions Continue in Ottawa as Residents Recover From July 1 Flooding

More than a month after a severe storm flooded thousands of basements across Ottawa, recovery support is still reaching residents, with the Canadian Red Cross running in person and virtual case management sessions through at least the end of August.
The July 1 storm overwhelmed sewer systems in several neighbourhoods, and the city’s Emergency Coordination Centre has logged nearly seven thousand reports of basement flooding since. According to the City of Ottawa, more than four thousand tonnes of storm related debris have been collected through enhanced waste pickup, and nearly two thousand applications have been received for the Compassionate Grant Program, a one time 1,000 dollar payment for property owners and tenants affected by sewer surcharge flooding.
Canadian Red Cross case managers are available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the second floor of Ben Franklin Place, offering support with insurance claims, connections to engineers and renovation specialists, and general guidance for households still working through repairs. Residents can book an appointment by calling 1 800 863 6582 or emailing NavigationSupportON@redcross.ca, though walk ins are also welcome.
City council has also expanded assistance since the storm, waiving building permit fees for flood related repairs and encroachment fees for waste containers used to collect debris, while broadening eligibility for both the Compassionate Grant Program and the Residential Protective Plumbing Program. For the July 1 event specifically, the city has removed its usual requirement that applicants show proof of prior flood mitigation measures before qualifying for a second grant.
Separately, the Ontario government has activated its Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program for affected areas of the city, covering emergency expenses and repair costs not reimbursed by insurance. The application deadline for that provincial program is November 16.
For residents still assessing damage or navigating paperwork, city officials say the fastest way to reach a case worker remains the Canadian Red Cross sessions at Ben Franklin Place, alongside the City’s ongoing information sessions at the John G. Mlacak Centre and Carleton Heights Community Centre. Questions about cleanup or debris pickup can be directed to 3 1 1.