Officials in Chatham-Kent are urging residents to remain cautious even though the worst of the flooding along the Thames River is over.
Municipal officials say the river peaked at more than 5m around 9pm Saturday. More than a dozen people were rescued from their homes in Chatham. Some downtown business also reported flooding.
Chatham's John D. Bradley Centre was used as an evacuation location and shelter, but has since closed.
Thamesville Resident Lenny Moore tells CTV Windsor's Chris Campbell he couldn't believe what was happening.
"We opened up the door and were just, holy cow there's water coming into the door, and I said oh my God," Moore says.
Chatham-Kent Municipal program manager Mary Alice Searles says several businesses stepped up to help those displaced by the flooding
"I was really impressed with how the community came together and really rallied around the event," says Searles. "Tek-Savy came, they dropped off three pallets of water, so we had lots of water in the event of the need."
Donna Girard is a Disaster Management Advisor with the Canadian Red Cross. She says the entire community has kept a positive outlook throughout the ordeal.
"A major disaster, some will not be able to go back to their homes. They're all very friendly and appreciative of everything that was being done for them," she says. "I think it was the best of the worst situation."
The water level in Thamesville has decreased by 1m since hitting its peak Saturday.
In Chatham, the level has dropped about 10cm as of Sunday.
— with files from CTV News Windsor.