Sea-levels rising is a phenomena accredited to Climate Change and global warming and it’s very much a dangerous phenomena causing many problems for many countries. Coastal countries and islands specifically; Canada included. That’s why in this post which is #3 of our “Climate Change Emergency Tips” series, we talk about flood protection! We took the liberty of going through the Canadian Government‘s Manuel on what to do in case of a flood and we thought we’d summarize the main points for you. Below is a list of things you should know before and during a flood:
Before
- Have an emergency plan ready: discuss what you should do in the case that you and your family are not home together and how you would act separately. You can get more tips on making a plan at: www.getprepared.com
- Store important documents such as passports, birth certifications, and financial documents in water-proof containers.
- Do not store important documents in your basement.
- Have an emergency kit prepared! Your kit should have essential survival things as you might not have water or power during a flood. The kit should include the following items which should be kept in the same bag for easy access:
- Water: at least two litters per person;
- Food: nonperishable/canned. Check out our post about food supplies for more details;
- Can opener…for the food;
- Battery-powered flashlight…with extra batteries;
- First Aid Kit;
- Extra keys to your house and car;
- Small amounts of cash and change;
- Contact info and a copy of your emergency plan!
- If flood is forecast:
- Turn off all gas-using appliances in the basement.
- Shut off electricity in the basement only if power box is dry!
- Move furniture and appliances on higher grounds.
- To prevent pollution, remove toxic chemicals such as pesticides from the ground.
During
- Keep up to date with news on the radio. The news you need to look out for is what areas are affected, what roads are safe, where to go if evacuated…etc.
- Do NOT turn off the electricity if water has leaked into your house!
- Keep your emergency kit close by in case you need to evacuate!
- On that note, listen and follow through if the authorities advise you to evacuate and go by these steps:
- Follow the safe roads specified, do not take shortcuts;
- Leave notes of your whereabouts for others in your mailbox;
- Do not cross a flooded area whether on foot or by car;
- If your car gets stuck in a flooded area, leave it and save yourself;
- & do not go home until authorities let you know it’s safe to!
For a more extensive list, check out the full document by the Canadian Government: www.getprepared.gc.ca
Also, check back on our website for a post about what to do after a flood!
Do you have any other tips for floods protection that you’d like us to add? What tips do you think we should cover next in this series?Let us know in the comments below!
Related:
12 Tips On Climate Change Emergencies
Toronto & Adaptation/Mitigation Methods