Floods
If you have to leave your property during a flood, be sure to shut off electric circuits if you can safely do so
During a flood, if water has entered a garage or basement, do not walk through it — it may contain hazardous materials.
Floods are the most common natural hazard in Canada. They can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of thick snow, ice jams, or, more rarely, the failure of a natural or man-made dam.
What should I do if I know a flood is coming?
- Put weather protection sealant around basement windows and the base of ground-level doors.
- Install the drainage for downspouts a sufficient distance from your residence to ensure water moves away from the building.
- Consider installing a sump pump and zero reverse flow valves in basement floor drains.
- Do not store your important documents in the basement. Keep them at a higher level, protected from flood damage.
- Turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve.
- Take special precautions to safeguard electrical, natural gas or propane heating equipment.
- If there is enough time, consult your electricity or fuel supplier for instructions on how to proceed.
- Call your local municipality for information about free sandbags to protect your property from flooding.
What should I do during a flood?
- If water has entered a garage or basement, do not walk through it — it may contain hazardous materials.
- Do not try to drive over a flooded road. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately. Attempting to move a stalled vehicle in flood conditions can be fatal.
- Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you must walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
- Stay clear of water that is in contact with downed power lines.
- Do not allow children to play around high water, storm drains or any flooded areas.
- If you must prepare to evacuate, be sure to shut off electric circuits if you can safely do so. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
Additional information
Floods (Government of Canada)
Flood safety information (Electrical Safety Authority)
Sewer backup: Know what to do (City of Greater Sudbury)
Flood (City of Greater Sudbury)
Flood water after a disaster or emergency (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
To learn more, contact us at 705.522.9200 or toll-free at 1.866.522.9200.
This item was last modified on March 21, 2022