Expert urges homeowners to take steps to protect against flooding

Saskatchewan will join jurisdictions across the country in a push to update flood plain maps and a Canadian researcher says it may be the push many homeowners need to protect themselves against flooding.

Dr. Blair Feltman from the The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo told 650 CKOM that many parts of Canada are operating with flood maps that are decades out of date and don’t reflect the reality of flooding risk caused by a changing climate.

“Flood risk in Canada is only going to increase going forward for the vast majority of the country. Climate change is irreversible . It’s here to stay. Period,” he said, noting that even if humanity succeeds in reducing carbon emissions, this would only slow further warming, rather than reversing  what’s already locked in.

He noted the insurance industry has already begun pricing in the effects of climate change.

“Over the course of the last five years in Canada, insurance premiums for homes have increased about 20 to 25 per cent, 15 per cent of which is attributable to flooding.”

Feltman said many homeowners would likely find themselves confronted by an unpleasant reality as updated flood maps become freely available online over the next few years.

“I think one of the ramifications will be that many people will be surprised to find that their house or community is in an area of high flood risk.”

Feltman said roughly five to seven per cent of Canadian homes are likely at such high risk that they’d be difficult to insure.

“In those areas, people should be considering strategic retreat, in other words, moving out of there.”

However, for everyone else, Feltman said the picture doesn’t have to be so bleak.

“It’s not necessarily bad news that your house may be in a flood risk zone if you’ve taken the appropriate measures, particularly at the level of the house,” he said.

In fact, Feltman said homeowners can take many inexpensive and easy steps to reduce their risk of a flooded-out basement. He added that protecting homes often helps keep insurance premiums down.

For outside of homes, Feltman suggested the following measures:

• Disconnecting downspouts from weeping tile near foundations and re-directing water two to three metres away from the foundation — while avoiding having the water flow onto neighbours’ properties.
• Covering and waterproofing window wells.
• Ensuring ground floor windows are watertight.
• Contour so water flows away from home.

For inside homes, he advised the following:

• Check sump pumps to ensure they work.
• Consider having two sump pumps rather than one to protect against breakdowns or failures.
• Get a battery backup capable of running your sump pump for three or four days in case the power goes out.
• Have a plumber inspect your basement drain and determine if you need a backwater valve.
• If you have a backwater valve, make sure it’s cleaned and maintained.
• Make sure basement drains are free and clear of debris and haven’t been tiled or carpeted over.
• Get valuables off the floor and preferably store them in plastic to prevent water damage.

“This is not difficult stuff. This is not the physics of curved space. This is pretty straightforward stuff that people can do around their home to, hopefully, avoid having the 40, 50, $60,000 basement flood,” Feltman said.

He noted communities also have a role to play.

“Communities should be looking at how they use structural defences. How can they use berms, diversion channels, holding ponds, cisterns?”

Feltman said he hoped homeowners and governments would take the issue seriously.

“We need to act in the immediate term —tomorrow— to address flood risk or we’re going to suffer unconscionable costs.”