Flood Safety Tips and Precautions

The wild weather Burlington experienced earlier this month led to flooding in about 2,000 homes. Burlington received the equivalent of two months of rain in two hours which led to basement flooding and sewage backups in many homes. After the flooding, the demand for water damage repair and cleanup in Burlington has increased manifold. Although GTA has been experiencing a good summer after one of the harshest winters ever, the catastrophic weather Burlington experienced is a reminder to everyone that we need to be prepared for severe weather.

Weather forecasts usually warn people about inclement weather conditions in advance, but many times floods arrive suddenly, as residents of Burlington found out the hard way. Taking some preventive measures before, during, and after a flood can help you minimize any losses. Let’s take a look at a few flood safety tips that can be beneficial to you.

• Take preventive measures against flooding

If you live in a flood-prone area, it’s advisable to elevate the furnace and electrical panel of your home. To prevent seepage, you can seal your basement walls with waterproofing materials. One of the common problems homeowners face during flooding is flood water backing up in the drains. To prevent this, you can hire a plumber and install check valves.

• When a flood occurs, move to a higher ground

During a flood, you’ll have little time to make a decision, therefore, it’s important that you get your priorities right. If a flash flood warning has been issued in your area, don’t wait to collect your personal belongings. Your first priority should be to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. It’s advisable that you don’t wait for instructions and immediately move to a higher ground while taking your emergency kit with you if water levels are continuously increasing around your home.

• Don’t attempt to cross a flooded area

Don’t make the mistake of crossing a flooded area as it can be extremely dangerous. Even six inches of moving water can make you fall, so it’s important that you don’t attempt to cross flooded streams or canyons. This is true even if you are in a car as moving water has the intensity to sweep away SUVs and pick-up trucks. If the water level around your vehicle rises quickly, abandon it and move to a place of safety.

• Follow all the safety guidelines after a flood

After the water levels have receded, you might want to quickly re-enter your home, but doing so can be dangerous because of the risk of electric shocks or fire. It’s important that you wait until the authorities declare that it is safe to do so. To prevent the risk of electric shocks, it’s advisable that you call an electrician and have all the appliances assessed completely. You should also check your home for any structural damages, such as buckled walls or holes in the floors before you move in. Flooding can contaminate drinking water; if you suspect that your drinking water is contaminated, don’t drink it.

These were a few tips flood safety tips that you should keep in mind before, during, and after a flood. As we discussed earlier, the devastation caused by wild weather in Burlington has made it clear that all of us need to be prepared for dealing with inclement weather conditions and flooding. Although efforts are on for Burlington water damage cleanup, it’ll take some time for the residents to restore their homes. The silver lining in this devastation has been the support and cooperation people of Burlington have offered to those who have been affected.

Ally Thaomas has over 15 years of experience responding to emergencies.He work with full service company providing the initial emergency response, extraction of the water, drying out of the properties and finally the renovation, if required.