Top 10 preparation tips for property flooding – Here are 10 ways you can protect your property against flood damage, whether you’re a commercial property owner, property manager or homeowner:
- Waterproof your basement, fill any cracks in the foundation, and install weather protection sealant around windows and the base of ground-level doors. Install flood shields or barriers for basement windows and doors.
- Raise large appliances in the basement onto wood or cement blocks. If possible, raise electrical panels, switches, sockets, wiring and heating systems @ otherwise protect them with a flood wall or shield.
- Anchor furnaces, water heaters, and/or oil tanks to the floor. Unsecured, they may tip over or float in a flood. A ruptured tank may leak fuel, creating a serious fire hazard.
- Check that all basement flood drains are not blocked or covered. For extra precaution, you can install a water alarm to let you know if water is accumulating.
- Make sure your sump pump is working and install a battery-operated backup in case of a power failure.
- Install back flow valves for drains, toilets and other sewer connections in the basement. These valves automatically close if water or sewage backs up from the main sewer.
- Clear debris from your roof and eavestroughs so that they drain properly during heavy rains. Downspouts should extend at least six feet from the basement wall, well away from your and neighbouring properties.
- Turn off the electricity in flood-prone areas of the property if a flood is expected in your area.
- Talk to your insurance agent about flood insurance. Standard residential insurance typically does not cover floods caused by water overflowing from lakes, rivers and other bodies of water (called overland flooding) but may be available separately. For business owners, flood insurance is usually available as an add-on coverage to commercial property and to business interruption insurance policies. Commercial sewer backup coverage is also available but usually purchased separately.
– Stay informed. Follow the latest public weather alerts for your area at https://weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html .