How to prepare for possible flooding in or near your home:

Before the flood

Make a list or inventory of your possessions, valuables, papers and property

Learn the safest route from your home or business to safe high ground

Keep sand, sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber on hand if flooding is more likely to happen in your area

Make sure all your family members know how to turn off the power, water and gas in your home

Install check valves in sewer traps so flood water cannot backup into sewer drains

Be aware the swollen waters can cut off a return route, meaning you may become trapped and not be able to return to safer ground

During the flood

Listen to the TV or Radio news channels for evacuation orders

Turn off all utilities in your home

If there is time and a major flood is expected in your area, store all valuables in the upper floors and board up windows before leaving your home

Remove any toxic chemicals from the home to prevent contamination

Take all medicines with you or store medicines where flood waters cannot reach them

Secure all outdoor possessions (lawn furniture, garbage cans, etc.)

If required to leave your home, always seek higher ground, staying out of dry creeks or river beds and avoid areas that are known to suddenly flood

DO NOT attempt to cross a flooded stream or flooded road

If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it and climb to higher ground

You may be directed to retreat to a designated safe Community Centre or to a family member out of the flood zone

After the flood

Get in touch with your insurance agent immediately if you had flooded waters in your home

Do not use fresh or unsealed foods that have been in contact with flood waters - you do not know what has contaminated the flood waters

Have your drinking water tested for contaminants (this may need to be done by a professional)

If you need to drink the water before testing, you will need to either boil the water for 3 minutes or add liquid household bleach (must contain 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and it must be less than a year old)

Recipe:

Water amount: 1 quart

Water is CLEAR: add 2 drops bleach

Water is CLOUDY: add 4 drops bleach

If you are injured or experience a life threatening incident, you should immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

To report an emergency or disaster in British Columbia, your first point of contact is Emergency Management British Columbia (EMBC) at 1-800-663-3456. This connects to EMBC’s 24/7 Emergency Coordination Centre. Regional office contacts for EMBC are also included in this information package.

Emergencies can happen at any time. We encourage you to stay informed of events happening in your region by visiting these websites regularly and registering for any notifications or bulletins available to you.

• For specific flood advisories and warnings, visit the BC River Forecast Centre at http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca
• For weather bulletins, visit Environment Canada’s website: http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=FDF98F96-1
• For current emergency management activities such as floods, fires, and earthquakes, visit EMBC’s website: http://emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca 
• For information regarding Emergency Management Preparedness for individuals and families, visit Public Safety Canada’s website: http://www.getprepared.gc.ca
• For additional flood preparedness information, visit EMBC’s site: http://embc.gov.bc.ca/em/floods/index.html

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