Preparing for a flood

• Find out if your home insurance covers flooding. Sewer/septic backup and overland or groundwater flooding are typically add-ons available at extra cost.
• Store valuables and important items or documents in water-tight containers or in higher places.
• Lift basement appliances off the ground on wooden or cement blocks. Make sure basement drains are not blocked.
• Put weather sealant on windows and doors.
• Clear your eavestroughs, downspouts and gutters regularly. Extend your downspouts away from your foundation.
• In the winter, clear snow at least 1 to 1.5 metres (3 to 5 feet) away from your home’s foundation. In the spring, clear any ice dams so water can flow.
• If you have a sump pump, check and maintain it each spring.
• Know where your home's electrical panel, water shut-off valves, and propane or oil tank shut-offs are located. If a flood is approaching your home, turn off any appliances that you are not using.
• Water and electricity do not mix. If water is already present in your home, do not try to turn off your power. Instead, phone the electric company.

Make an emergency plan so everyone in your household knows what to do in an emergency. This can include how to contact each other and where to meet.

​In your emergency kit you'll need basic supplies for every member of your household in an emergency. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours without power or running water.

Make an emergency plan for pets, service animals, and livestock.

• Secure items on your property so they are not carried away during a flood.
• Move equipment away from flood waters. Move your belongings stored outside to locations that are safe from flooding. This can include:
  • motorized equipment;
  • vehicles; and
  • recreational gear.
• Install flood barriers around low-lying assets that can't be relocated. If you suspect flooding is going to occur, you can prevent damage to your home by building a sandbag berm.
• Learn about controlling shoreline erosion on your property here.
• Find out what to do about fuel tanks and hazardous substances in flood areas.

• Find out what to do about private sewage systems and septic tanks in flood areas.