Heavy rainfall, flooding displaces residents from Wheatley, Ont., seniors home

Eight residents have been displaced from a southwestern Ontario seniors home after there was flooding inside the building.

The flooding inside The Meadows of Wheatley retirement home happened during "significant" rainfall early Tuesday night in the Wheatley and Leamington area. An event, including family members and friends, was being held at the home when the rainfall occurred. 

The home cares for 32 people with various needs.

The home's administrator, Madelaine Shanks, says cleaning crews have been on scene since last night spraying everything with disinfectant.

She hopes the residents will be able to return in a "few days."

Jamie Morrison is the head cook there and says the rain was "so hard and so fast," and unlike anything she's seen during her time working at the retirement complex. 

Displaced residents are staying with nearby relatives or friends.

Morrison says water has receded since last night.

Hilton Chevalier's 88-year-old mother has lived at the home since the fall.

He says water seeped into some hallways and rooms when he was there last night.

According to Chevalier, he made sure to keep a window open in her room — for better air quality — before he left, and hopes the building and residents continue to be closely monitored.

"Make sure nothing is being unchecked," he said.

Public health getting in contact

Chatham-Kent's manager of environmental health department says an inspector on her team will be connecting with the retirement home on Wednesday after learning of the flood and how it impacted some residents from CBC News.

Cara Robinson says they'll be looking to figure what remediation plans are in place, what areas of the building were impacted — including the kitchen — and determining what gave rise to the flood.

"Decisions will be made as information is made available," she said.