Flooding/Melting Snow Warning – Health & Safety Tips

Flooding is a natural hazard in Ontario that can happen at any time of year but is often more prevalent in the spring.

Hazard Information

Floods are typically caused by melting snow, ice jams, heavy spring rains and summer thunderstorms. Flash flooding is caused by violent rain storms or breaking dams — often occurring with little or no warning. They can damage property and injure or kill people.

For more information on flooding and your safety, visit the Flood Forecasting and Warning Program page.

Safety Tips

If you are instructed by emergency officials to evacuate, do so immediately.

If you are indoors:

• Move essential items (and household chemicals) to an upper floor
• Disconnect electrical appliances — don’t touch electrical equipment if you’re wet or standing in water
• Bring in outdoor furniture (if you have time)
• Don’t eat food that’s come in contact with flood waters

If you are outdoors:

• Move to higher ground if there is a chance of a flash flood
• Don’t walk through moving water — you may fall
• If you have to walk — look for where the water is not moving and use a stick to check the ground in front of you
• Keep children away from flood water
• Don’t drive through floodwaters

Prepare Now

Take the following steps so you and your family are prepared in the event of an emergency:

• Put weather protection sealant around basement windows and ground-level doors
• Install “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home
• Install the drainage for downspouts a sufficient distance from your home to ensure water moves away from the building
• Move documents and keepsakes out of the basement
• Keep instructions for shutting off gas and water valves handy and read them carefully