What you need to do:
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- Understand the flood risk to your area
- Prepare your home and property
- Respond when water comes
- Recover after a flood
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How to prepare for a flood:
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- Check with your local municipal web site
- Think about relocation routes and centres
- Prepare an emergency kit
- Prepare an emergency flood plan for you and your household
- Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers on display
- Check your insurance policy to see if you are covered for flood damage
- If your area is flood prone, consider alternatives to using carpets as floor covering
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Preparing your property when flooding is imminent:
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If flooding is imminent, and you have time to safely prepare your property:
- Secure hazardous items
- Roll up rugs, move furniture, electrical items, and valuables to a higher level
- Place important personal documents, valuables, and vital medical supplies in a waterproof case in an accessible location
- If you are relocating, take your pets with you if it is safe to do so. If not, provide an sufficient food and water and move them to a safer place
- Monitor Environment Canada forecasts, Trent Severn Waterway Notices, Ministry of Natural Resources and listen to your local radio station.
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Relocating to Safer Ground:
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If rising waters threaten your home and you decide to move to a safer location: tell a family member, Emergency Services, or your neighbors of your plans to move. When relocating please:
- Monitor your local radio station for warnings and advice
- Pack warm clothing, essential medication, valuables and personal papers in waterproof in waterproof bags along with your emergency kit
- Raise furniture, clothing, and valuables onto beds, tables, and into attic space. Place electrical items in the highest places
- Disconnect electrical appliances – don't touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
- Empty freezers, and refrigerators, leaving doors open to avoid damage or loss if they float.
- Turn off power, water, and gas, and take a mobile phone
- Whether your leave or stay, put sand bags in the toilet bowl, and over all laundry/bathroom drain holes to prevent sewage backflow
- Lock your home and take recommended routes for your area
- Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current
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If you have not left by the time floodwaters have arrived on your property:
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- Monitor your local radio station for warnings and advice
- Get to higher ground, if possible
- Switch off electricity and gas supplies to your home
- Prepare to move vehicles, outdoor equipment, garbage, chemical and poisons to higher locations
- Prepare for the well-being of pets
- Raise furniture above likely flood levels
- Check your emergency kit
- Do not allow children to play in or near floodwaters
- Avoid entering floodwaters, and if you must do so, wear solid shoes, and check depth and current with a stick
- Stay away from drains, culverts, and water over knee deep
- Do not use gas or electrical appliances that have been in floodwaters until checked for safety
- Do not eat food that has been in floodwaters
- Boil tap water until supplies have been declared safe
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