The unprecedented 100-year flood that struck Mississauga on July 16, 2024, tested the city’s emergency response teams, who tackled a wide range of crises from rescuing people trapped in vehicles to evacuating residents from flooded homes. With 122.9 mm of rainfall recorded at Pearson Airport over two days, the city experienced the highest amount of rainfall in southern Ontario.
Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services Chief Deryn Rizzi reported that fire crews responded to over 160 emergencies during the peak of the crisis, from noon to 3:30 p.m. The city’s 311 Call Centre received nearly 2,000 calls, many of which reported basement flooding.
“This was a lifetime event,” said Platoon Chief Steve Kraft. “If I only worked one day in my career, today would have covered just about every type of emergency incident.”
Key incidents included the evacuation of approximately 115 residents from Tyndall Seniors Village due to flooding from Little Etobicoke Creek. Firefighters also rescued two teenagers swept into Cooksville Creek, both of whom were found safe. Numerous vehicle rescues were conducted, with fire crews using ladders and rescue boats to reach those stranded.
Due to the high volume of emergencies, additional support was required. Brampton Fire and Toronto Fire responded to mutual aid calls for water rescues, assisting Mississauga’s overstretched resources. The fire services’ mutual aid agreements facilitated this crucial support.
Chief Rizzi emphasized the importance of community safety during such events, urging residents to avoid flooded areas and call 911 if in need. “Our dedicated team worked tirelessly, prioritizing calls based on the urgency of each situation and the vulnerability of the caller,” Rizzi said.
The City of Mississauga continues to assess the damage from the flood, which includes sinkholes, erosion along creeks, and damage to parks and trails. City-owned marinas also sustained some damage. The Incident Management Team assembled to support and coordinate the response, working with regional partners such as Peel Regional Police, Peel Regional Paramedic Services, and others.
Flooding has consistently been among the top environmental hazards in southern Ontario. Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services have emergency management plans in place to handle such events. Chief Rizzi assured residents, “We’ve got them, we’re going to take care of them.”