This article originally appeared on Oakville News on July 17.
Yesterday, severe flooding in 16 Mile Creek and Oakville Harbour led to a significant rescue operation involving Oakville Marine Search and Rescue (OMSAR), the Halton Police Marine Unit, and the town of Oakville.
According to OMSAR, the flooding on July 16, 2024, caused large 30-meter sections of the dock, with vessels ranging from 20 to 45 feet attached, to break loose and drift downstream into Lake Ontario and the harbour. Approximately 20 boats were affected.
Multiple sources at the scene say boats from the Oakville Power Boat Club were dislodged and bounced down the creek.
Rescue crews successfully evacuated 26 people from small sailing dinghies located 0.5 nautical miles offshore, south of Oakville West Pier.
The team also escorted a damaged 24-foot Yamaha jet boat to safety at Bronte Outer Harbour Gas Dock.
The mission report from OMSAR also says that crews monitored an unattended, drifting dock and a 28-foot cruiser one nautical mile east of Oakville, ensuring the vessel and its owner were able to safely get to Bronte.
Damage estimates have not yet been made available.
OMSAR did not report any injuries as a result of the operation in the mission report.