Tools for Home
Learn to be FloodSmart
Check out the following brochure for more information about preparing for a flood.
Check back again soon as new tools are being added.
Flood Preparedeness
The best time to prepare for a flood is well before you are threatened with rising water.
- Know your flood risk
- Develop a household emergency plan
- Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.
- Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to get to higher ground, the highest level of a building, or to evacuate.
- Connect with your neighbours
- Prepare your home
- Clean your gutters
- Maintain perimeter drains and ensure downspouts are away from your residence
- Consider constructing a rain garden or other landscaping to manage runoff
- Consider buying flood insurance
- Stay tuned to phone alerts, TV, or radio for weather updates, emergency instructions, or evacuation orders
Flood Watches & Flood Warnings
The BC River Forecast Centre is responsible for issuing flood watches and warnings.
Flood Watch
Be aware, conditions are right for flooding to occur
Steps to Take
- Tune in to local TV/radio to receive the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
- Know where to go. You may need to reach higher ground quickly and on foot.
- Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit. Include a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.
Prepare your home
- Bring in outdoor furniture and move important indoor items to the highest possible floor. This will help protect them from flood damage.
- Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. You could be electrocuted.
- Park vehicles away from streams and waterways.
- If instructed, turn off your gas and electricity at the main switch or valve. This helps prevent fires and explosions.
Flood Warning
Take Action – Flooding is either happening or will happen shortly.
Steps to Take
- Tune in to local TV/radio to receive the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
- Move immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground.
- Evacuate if directed.
- Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
Basic Safety Tips
- Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
- Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
- If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
- Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.
After a Flood
- Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
- Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded and watch out for debris. Floodwaters often erode roads and walkways.
- Do not attempt to drive through areas that are still flooded.
- Avoid standing water as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
- Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes.
Additional Resources
- Turn Around Don’t Drown! ®
- Emergency Management BC
- BC’s Flood Information For Home Owners and Home Buyers includes information (page 6) on how to build a sandbag dike
- Real-time water level and flow (discharge) data collected at over 1900 hydrometric stations across Canada