Cleanup underway at Waltzing Weasel as water levels continue to drop throughout London

Standing ankle-deep in water, the owner of the Waltzing Weasel re-positioned a pump that drained water from the restaurant’s basement.

At the flood’s worst, Mike McCoubrey explained how water has reached around six-feet high on Wednesday.

The restaurant sits on the northeast corner of the Adelaide Street and Windermere Road intersection. The area is prone to flooding, but this is the worst that McCoubrey has seen since opening in 1998.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting the amount of water that we got.”

When a call came Tuesday afternoon from the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), warning that flooding was imminent, McCoubrey thought he was prepared. Three pumps were ready to drain the basement — hopefully faster than it flooded — and he had more than 50 sandbags to block water from travelling down the steps.

“It came at about maybe 8 p.m. Tuesday night, and we, probably until about 9:30 p.m., struggled away.”

At that point, McCoubrey realized it was a lost cause.

“We’ve got a fair amount of equipment down there, water heaters and fridges and stuff. So it’ll all have to to be replaced.”

McCoubrey expects to be closed until Tuesday or Wednesday next week, which also means revenue loss.

“We’ve been here for almost 20 years so it’s not like it’s going to topple us or anything, but for the staff, they’re all out of work for a week.”

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While some things are unavoidable, for others, McCoubrey is able to minimize the loss. For example, a local agency will be picking up fresh produce that would otherwise go unused.

“It’s not going to be any good by the time we’re ready to go,” McCoubrey explained.

Early Wednesday afternoon, McCoubrey had a pump draining the basement into a nearby storm drain. The majority of the water disappeared as the Thames River’s water levels receded, he explained. He’d called a restoration company to come in that afternoon, and help with the rest of the cleanup and make sure things were properly dried.

A little further west along Windermere Road, a similar operation was underway at the city-owned cat adoption centre, The Catty Shack.

“Being in the flood plain, we were completely prepared,” assured Heather Chapman, London’s manager of Municipal Law Enforcement Services and Animal Services.

“The lower level is service space only, it’s actually unfinished. And the furnace and the water heater has been built in a means that is well above any flooding line.”

Feline residents were unphased by flooding that happened in the basement below, and if anything, enjoyed the flurry of activity Thursday from volunteers and members of a restoration company.

“If it’s bringing a few more volunteers in right now to help with the cleanup that’s necessary, I’m sure they’re happy to see the people,” laughed Chapman.

The UTRCA says water levels on streams and rivers are dropping across the watershed, but warns the flow in many watercourses will remain high throughout the weekend. They’re reminding residents that flood plains and low lying areas are still risky, and they’re encouraging people to keep children and pets away.