Province planning for floods

April 26, 2018

By Sarah Sobanski

The province wants you to protect your property from flooding this year.

With heavy rains and flooding events increasing every year, the province says people need to be prepared for flood season. Something as small as a flooded power outlet in the wall can result in an emergency situation where your power cuts out. These emergency electrical contractors in Sydney give an indication of who you would need to call if your home is flooded and your electrics become damaged. If your home is liable to flood again, it’s a good idea to get an electrician in to raise the height of your ground floor wall plugs, ensuring that floodwaters are less likely to reach them. Here are some further tips on how to protect your home in the event of a flood:

Installing a backflow prevention valve
Fixing cracks in the basement
Making sure downspouts are directed away from the home
Disconnecting foundation drains from the sewer system and installing a sump pump
Fixing the grading around the property so that the ground slopes away from the home
If you do all of this and do end up with slight flooding, you may want to look at carpet drying services to get it cleaned as soon as possible.

“Appropriate insurance coverage can also help protect you from financial losses if you experience flood damage,” the province stated. If you have suffered from extensive flood damage and you have the relevant insurance that can possibly cover these costs, contacting a public adjuster in your area can help to make sure that you get the compensation that you are entitled to. “Insurance companies offer different types and levels of coverage and assess the risks of each property individually.” When disaster strikes, such as a flood, water can damage your home quickly, in which case you may need to hire professional help to repair the damage. For situations like these, you can contact residential water damage restoration companies like Kelmann Restoration or similar ones.

The province said the increase in extreme weather events is a result of climate change. It said it’s “taking action to better protect our environment and help residents adapt to a changing climate through the Climate Change Action Plan.” It’s also redesigning its disaster recovery programs.

Locally, Renfrew County took advantage of this program following floods last year. “Between 2011 and 2016, the province activated its disaster recovery programs in 56 municipalities and provided over $40 million in provincial assistance. Last year alone, Ontario set aside up to $12.5 million to provide disaster assistance to individuals, businesses and municipalities across 37 communities that were affected by flooding,” the province said in a press release.

The province’s Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program “provides financial assistance to eligible residents, farms, small business owners and not-for-profit organizations. The program focuses on essentials – such as helping with cleanup costs and replacing necessary items like furnaces and basic appliances. The program does not cover full replacement costs or provide assistance for costs covered by insurance.”