As a lifelong, land-locked Albertan, I’ll admit I’ve never given much thought to the threat of flood; at least not prior to the events of the last five years or so. Even then, I was one of those fortunate enough to come away relatively untouched by recent disasters – still I know I’d be foolish to think that it can’t happen again or that it won’t affect me.
Get ready now.
Coast-to-coast flooding has wreaked havoc on Canadians time and time again and while the whims of Mother Nature are out of our hands, being prepared to properly manage them isn’t.
Get outside:
Your property may still be covered in too much snow and ice to take care of some of these items right now, but keep this list handy you’ll want to stay on top of it as the weather warms.
- Make sure downspouts are properly installed and being used, not just in the rainy season, but also to draw away melting snow. They should extend at least six feet away from your home towards the street or backyard.
- Clear snow three to five feet away from the foundation of your home.
- Ensure that your lot is properly graded, so that water effectively drains away from basement walls.
- Consider landscaping with plants and groundcover that resists soil erosion, to help maintain proper grading.
Inside your home:
- Keep valuable items on the upper floors of your home away from the basement. For the items you do store in the basement, package them in water resistant plastic containers and try to keep them off the ground on secured shelving.
- Install backflow valves for sewage lines to prevent sewer back up should the lines get overwhelmed in a flood. There may be permits required for this job, it’s a good idea to have professional look after this task.
- Consider installing a sump pump if you’ve ever experienced water issues in your basement with even mild rains. Small amounts of water may not seem like an issue, especially in an undeveloped basement, but let’s not forget about the risk of mold the dampness brings – damaging your health and your home.
These are just a few of the precautions to consider, the Insurance Bureau of Canada has prepared this resource with a few more details and ideas, you can download it here.
I’m prepared, but what if there is a flood?
Being prepared means you’ll mitigate your potential loss, but some things are in fact out of your control. Now is the time to review your insurance coverage. Did you know that sewer backup and overland flood coverage are not automatically included on all home policies? Do you know if it’s included in your policy? Don’t wait for a loss to find out, check your policy. Better yet call your advisor. I’m not ashamed to admit I don’t really understand the documents that come along with my policy, so making sense of exactly what kind of coverage I have needs a little translating. The InsureMy team has always been particularly patient and helpful in this regard, send them a note if you have a question about your policy even if it’s not theirs – really, they are that helpful.
Have More Questions?
Let me know and I’ll do my best to address it here for you and all of our readers. Better yet, contact an InsureMy advisor; these guys know their stuff. Email Info@InsureMy.ca or give them a call locally at (403) 410-1896 or toll free at 1-844-410-1896.
Everyday Insurance With Allie
Working mom, lover of the great outdoors and self-professed know-it-all. Our resident blogger, Allie isn’t the insurance guru she claims to be – but she’s learning and we are happy to help guide her. All the while keeping you in the loop on the “insurancey” stuff you need to know. #AskAllie
