HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-2022-374 - May 2022 Windstorm Update
Infrastructure Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING: August 22, 2022
SUBMITTED BY: Niall Lobley, Director Parks & Cemeteries, 519 741 2600 ext. 4518
PREPARED BY: Josh Shea, Manager, Forestry & Natural Areas Management
WARD(S) INVOLVED: ALL
DATE OF REPORT: August 15, 2022
REPORT NO.: INS-2022-374
SUBJECT: May 2022 Windstorm Update
RECOMMENDATION:
For Information
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an initial assessment of the impact and
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operational response to a major windstorm event that impacted the City on May 21, 2022
The key finding of this report is that the City has completed its initial response to damages
in most areas, however, impacts from the storm are still dominating some workloads
The financial implications are estimated at approximately $1.5M. This includes all costs
associated with storm response and clean-up, as well as replacement tree planting in future
years but does not include the lost social and environmental value through mature tree
canopy loss.
This report supports the delivery of core services.
BACKGROUND:
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On the afternoon and evening of May 21, over the Victoria Day long weekend, a significant
windstorm event impacted many areas of southern Ontario and into Quebec. In Kitchener,
strong, sustained and occasionally gusty winds were experienced over several hours, with the
highest wind speed recorded at Waterloo airport of 132km per hour. The event was later
identified as a derecho or a widespread, linear windstorm event, associated with severe
thunderstorms.
The event killed at least 11 people, and over the 1000km of its storm track, impacted more than
These severe weather systems are caused by cold fronts skirting warm and humid air masses
and can give rise to tornado activity. Early estimates in June, 2022, suggested that Ontario and
Quebec experienced insured losses of more than $875M, with more than $720M of this in
Ontario. At its height, more than 1.1 million customers lost electric power, with many outages
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extending over multiple days, and some, over weeks. Several municipalities declared states of
emergency as they were overwhelmed by tree damage.
REPORT:
In Kitchener, more than 250 street trees were brought down in the storm, with hundreds more
trees along city streets and roads sustaining significant damage. It is estimated that as many as
three times this number may have been lost in the many natural areas and woodlots around
Kitchener.
City owned and managed trees fell on roadways, hydro lines, boulevards, sidewalks and in
parks. Several fell onto houses and property and across driveways. Staff estimate that the total
financial impact of the storm to be estimated at $1.5M between City staff, materials and
equipment, and the use of contractors and specialist services.
An initial clear up phase, (Emergency and Critical), focussed on removing the highest risk and
priority trees trees that had fallen onto property, across roads, sidewalks and driveways. This
work extended over the first three weeks following the storm, with teams working extended days
and over weekends.
Multiple teams of staff from several departments supported this work; Forestry teams working
on removing trees, contractors providing support where able and Roads crews using heavy
equipment to remove debris and open roadways. Staff in the Customer Contact Centre were key
in receiving, triaging, and dispatching calls, and emergency management staff provided support
in inter-agency communications.
Over the three weeks following the storm event, a street-by-street sweep of the City was
completed removing debris from the road edge generated both by private property clean ups
and through City operations. Cemeteries, particularly Woodland, were severely impacted and
saw staff workloads re-prioritized to clear fallen trees and repair damages. Golf courses,
especially Rockway, were impacted and forced to close for several days while immediate
damages were repaired and trees removed.
From mid June to mid July a second phase of clean up (Urgent), focused on less immediate but
still urgent work, was started. Through this phase, tree and limbs of trees were removed from
backyards, from on fences and sheds, and along trails and in parks. Parks staff began a
systematic inspection of parks, trails and open spaces to check for hidden hazards, particularly
after the fact. As material was generated, Roads staff continued to provide support hauling larger
materials and root balls to the Kitchener Operations Facility and Regional Landfill sites to be
processed.
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As of August 1, Forestry staff believe that the initial recovery, responding to critical and urgent
needs, has been largely completed and, staff are beginning to turn attention to the many service
requests and routine work which has been placed on hold since May. However, despite the
completion of the most urgent and critical needs, issues stemming from the storm continue to
be identified on a daily basis and a significant volume of work directly associated to the storm
continues.
In the immediate period after the storm, several parks and trails were closed to public access
due to significant fallen timber or identified hazards caused by damage to the canopy. As of July,
the only closure still in effect is at Idlewood bush at the back of Idlewood Park. The woodlot here
sustained very significant damage with more than 200 trees fallen or damaged. A significant
woodlot operation is planned for August 2022 which will see trees and fallen material cleared
from part of the woodlot to make space for a natural regeneration (supported if needed) of the
area.
To date, more than 250 street trees have been removed, with many more sustaining significant
damage which may yet prove to result in the decline and failing of trees. The loss of streets trees
is believed to be of a scale that will be measurable in the next canopy assessment in 2024/25,
and an reflect an estimated replacement value of approximately $200,000.
By the Numbers
Staff estimated in June that the recovery work from the storm in May would cost around
$1.5M in 2022 and 2023. To date, approximately $535,000 has been spent by the City on
clean up and recovery costs. Storm related works continues to be a significant focus for
city arborist and forestry staff.
More than 800 work orders directly related to storm impacts have been opened, and
around 500 already completed. This includes more than 200 removal work orders, 100
debris clean up work orders and 200 storm related pruning work orders.
It is estimated that as much as $1.1M will be spent in 2022 on storm recovery from this
single event, with additional future costs associated with tree replacement planting and
managing secondary impacts of the storm through coming seasons for an estimated total
financial impact of $1.5M.
In responding to the recovery, four external tree contractors have been engaged, and
efforts have been supported by the forestry team at the Region of Waterloo. A heavy
equipment and crane company has been engaged, and a specialist forestry company has
been engaged to provide support to clear up at Idlewood Natural Area.
Almost 3,000 hours of Operations Roads & Traffic staff resource was directed to
supporting the clean up. 943 truck loads of material were collected and processed,
including almost 300 truck loads collected from City streets to support residents inundated
with debris.
A total of 26 city streets were closed and reopened over the days following the storm, with
the longest road closure extending into five days.
Both Doon and Rockway Golf Courses closed, Doon reopened on May 22, however,
Rockway did not fully reopen until May 26.
Approximately 55 trees were lost on courses with 40 being at Rockway. Arena staff were
redeployed to support golf clean up, and contractors provided additional supports.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Operating Budget: Staff is predicting a $1.1M variance to the 2022 Forestry Operating Budget,
reflecting the impact of the storm. Details of the impacts of the May 2022 storm have been shared
with the Province in the event that Provincial financial supports become available.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
council / committee meeting.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter.
APPROVED BY: Denise McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services