A water safety statement will be in effect for the Otonabee Region jurisdiction until March 18.

Kawartha Conservation says rainfall Saturday, combined with melting snow and saturated grounds may cause flooding in low-lying areas.

"We have neighbours who sustained heart attacks and various health issues, some as a result of worry and concern over the waters," Rhodes said. 

The new flooding strategy focuses on five priority areas including improved floodplain mapping and enhancing preparedness.

"Given the prognostications thus far and the actual hard evidence of lake levels right now, we expect 2020 to be a repeat of 2019 -- if not worse."

"Besides the rain, the other aspect of this storm that we are keeping a close eye on is the freezing rain."

According to the government, McNeil found that the flooding was caused by a combination of weather conditions and not by human error.

Doug McNeil, a former Manitoba deputy minister who also held senior positions at the Manitoba Floodway Authority, was appointed after several areas of Ontario experienced high water this spring.

Thousand Island Association members are demanding changes to the International Commission's Plan 2014, which they believe has contributed to the increasing water levels in Lake Ontario.

The poll found that 55 per cent of Canadians are more concerned about flooding affecting their home or business today than they were four years ago.