Storm Update: Impacts to City Services

City of Hamilton crews are responding to wind damage in parts of Hamilton from yesterday evening’s storm. The City closed one road last night due to downed power lines. 

Forestry crews have received more than 200 calls reporting storm-related tree issues and are continuing to prioritize their responses based on public safety. Crews worked throughout the night and will continue through the day and likely into this evening. 

Information for residents on downed trees and branches

Residents cleaning up their own properties are advised to properly dispose of debris and branches. Residents are asked to place their yard waste at the curbside on their regular waste collection day and it will be collected by the end of the week. 

Residents are reminded that they can also drop their yard waste off at a Community Recycling Centre for free. 

As a reminder there is no limit to the amount of yard waste residents can set out at the curb provided it was generated on their property and meets the following criteria:

• Use paper bags, not plastic
• Use open-top reusable rigid containers (i.e. bins, baskets or a garbage can without a lid) preferably marked with a City of Hamilton yard waste sticker.
• Do not use cardboard boxes or blue bins for yard waste
• Ensure bags and containers weigh less than 50 pounds
• Bundle branches and twigs and tie them together with string in bundles no longer than 1.2m (4ft) and .75m (2.5ft) in diameter. Individual branches can’t be larger than 7cm (2.5in) in diameter. Branches that are more than 7 cm (or 2.5 in) in diameter should be dropped off at Community Recycling Centres.
• Do not let branches stick out of the yard waste bag
• Do not put leaf and yard waste in the Green Bin

Residents can call 905-546-2489 to report fallen trees and branches on public property.

Residents looking to hire a contractor to clean up trees on their own properties are required to use a Licensed Tree Cutter. A listing of Licensed Tree Cutters can be found at Licensed Tree Cutter | Open Hamilton.

Recreation Centre Impacts in Ancaster

Power outages in the Ancaster area have resulted in the closure of these recreation facilities for the day, and all programming has been cancelled:

• Ancaster Aquatic Centre
• Ancaster Lions Outdoor Pool
• Ancaster Rotary Centre
• Ancaster Seniors Achievement Centre
• Morgan Firestone Arena
• Spring Valley Arena (no programming scheduled)

Information on power outages and trees on power lines

Information on power outages and tips for residents can be found on the Alectra webpage - What to do During an Outage | Alectra Utilities.

Residents should contact the utility corporation (Alectra or Hydro One Networks) to report downed power lines or trees on power lines. In urgent situations, please call 911 to report the emergency. 

• Alectra Utilities at 1-833-ALECTRA (1-833-253-2872)
• Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235

Residents should not approach a tree that is touching power lines or has brought them down. Assume all wires are energized. Stay at least 10 meters (about the length of a school bus) away and keep others back.