Climate & Environment

Toronto Continues Storm Cleanup, Thousands of Requests Still Pending

By Alex Arsenych Opens in new window

Toronto is still working through thousands of service requests following what officials are calling the largest storm response in the city's history. In a Tuesday update, the City of Toronto reported nearly 5,700 storm-related service requests tied to damage from last week's intense rainfall, with more than 3,000 of those requests connected to fallen or damaged trees. The volume of tree-related issues has extended cleanup efforts into this week. City officials said crews have been working extended hours to address urgent public safety concerns and restore access to essential infrastructure, with critical infrastructure and roadways receiving top priority. The storm struck last Wednesday, bringing powerful winds and hail the size of ping pong balls. It knocked out power to thousands of homes across Toronto and caused flooding on major roads, including the Don Valley Parkway. Some parts of the Greater Toronto Area, such as Vaughan, Scarborough and North York, recorded more than 100 millimetres of rain. By Tuesday, the city said it had completed over 1,000 service requests, including fully clearing expressways and major arterial roads. Work continues to remove blockages on collector and local roads. The city has also been assisting emergency response and infrastructure partners, including Toronto Hydro and the Toronto Transit Commission, to help restore normal service. To manage the increased workload, Toronto has extended shifts for specialized urban forestry teams and brought in additional contractor crews to speed up tree maintenance and cleanup. Officials have not yet provided a timeline for when the work will be completed.