Flood Protection!

People often associate spring, with the highest risk of floods.  And realistically it is a time of high vulnerability.  But the trend over the past 2 decades, of increasingly severe weather systems during all 4 seasons, has made the risk of Flood a continuous potential problem.   Consequently, this is a great time for individuals, families, businesses and communities to understand their risk for flooding and take precautions to protect their families and property in the event of flooding.

Floods are one of the most common hazards in North America, but not all Floods are alike.  We have seen dramatic media coverage of Flood scenes from the Red River in Manitoba etc.  And a flash flood of a major river may have different repercussion than a driving rain, whatever the cause,  devastating damage to property and buildings can be the result.  A common cause of flood in urban centers can be a water main break, or poorly designed eaves trough systems.

There are some simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risks of all types of floods.  If you live on or near a flood plain, or major river, monitor the government weather service that predicts floods and rates danger levels

Heavy rains can turn a lazy river or stream into a raging torrent of water.  Exercise extreme caution around riverbanks and shorelines during spring run-off, and severe weather systems.  Keep children well way from waterways.

For the average home owner, not having your basement flooded in the past, does not make you immune to a future problem.

Here are some simple flood protection tips:

Insure your gutters (eaves troughs) are in good condition and clear of debris, such as leaves.  Direct the eaves trough pipe well away from your foundation.

Make sure that the landscape around your building allows water to drain away from the building, proper grading is essential to not over tax your weeping drains.

If you rely on a sump pump in your basement, install an alarm that alerts you in the event of a pump failure and consider a battery backup for the pump.  It’s not unusual to have a power failure during severe storms, when you need your pump working most!

Add a flood sensor to your Alarm System.   A flood sensor can alert you to a faulty sump pump, a broken water pipe, an overflowing washing machine etc.  An early warning can save you thousands of $’s!

Add a low temperature sensor to your Security Alarm System. Many floods are caused by burst pipes that were frozen.   A low temperature sensor can alert you to falling temperatures in your building before you have a problem.

Note:  many insurance companies have limited or no coverage for flood damage, or very high deductibles. Check your insurance policy and discuss your options with your broker.

Take a little time to prepare now, it can save you a great deal of aggravation in the future.