After a storm covered their homes in ice, residents along Lake Erie brace for flooding

As homes along Lake Erie gain notoriety for having ice crystals covering them after a nasty winter storm, concern is now shifting among locals about what could come next: flooding.

Bob Gurnham lives in the Fort Erie community of Crystal Beach, and his house overlooks the lake; he stayed with his family in Toronto when the winter storm passed before Christmas. Gurnham said that when he first saw the images of his ice-glazed house, he thought “it was a practical joke that someone (was) painting using his computer.”

His basement has already suffered from what he calls minor flooding, but as temperatures began to rise Wednesday, he worried about what it could mean for his entire home.

“We are very concerned about the effects of ice on the fabric of our building. It’s a big unknown what happens when we go into ice melt,” Gurnham said. “Some of the ice has started to fall off and it sounds like a bomb going off.”

Although Gurnham describes his situation as “living in an ice cave,” he is grateful to have electricity and running water. Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop told the Star that around 600 people are still without power in the city, a drop from around 11,000 during the height of the storm.

Redekop said the city will be monitoring flooding as the snow melts.

“Our public works crews will be monitoring various areas, the areas that we are familiar with that have been flooded in the past. We are asking residents to do what they can to make sure they are aware of any drainage systems in front of their homes,” Redekop said.

Helen Filipe, who has a cabin in Port Colborne, was also away, returning on Boxing Day. At this time, Filipe’s property appears to have been undamaged by the storm, but she hopes that will change.

“I’m not sure what the temperature will have to be for it to thaw. I have no doubt that there will be damage. It is impossible to predict at this moment what it is,” said Filipe. “Everything is standing, nothing seems to be shattered. It seemed to have frozen quickly.”

Strong winds during the storm brought water to land and homes along the lake, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Lucas Alexopoulos.

“When the water from these waves comes in contact with the surface, it freezes on impact because the air temperature is below freezing. It’s a very similar process to freezing rain, except instead of rain coming from the sky, it’s water coming from Lake Erie.”

According to Alexopoulos, this is called freezing spray and, at one point in Port Colborne, the wind was carrying it at 125 km/h.

While Gurnham, who has lived in Crystal Beach year-round since 2010, said this storm was the worst of four years of consecutive storms. This is by far the most serious in terms of water and water breaking. We have a wall in the back that protects our community. The water just broke it.”

Gurnham said the damage was so severe in a previous year that it affected all three levels of his home with costs in the “low six figures.” He added that despite weatherizing his home, including putting up window blinds, conditions continue to worsen.

“For the first eight or nine years when we lived in our house here, our sump pump never came on,” Gurnham said. “Water, when it wants to find a way, seems to be able to.”

Gurnham recognized the reality of living near water, but would also like to see steps taken around the lake to reduce the chances of flooding.

“It is a risk that we assume ourselves. It is wonderful 364 days a year. It’s just a couple of days that, especially over the course of the last four years, Mother Nature has been waiting for,” Gurnham said. “We would love to see those water levels go down so the chance of damage goes down.”

Edward Djan is a breaking news reporter working in the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @EdwardDjan1

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