Flood safety: how to protect your home

Extreme weather is causing more water damage than ever. Protect your home and family before, during and after a flood.

Before flood season: Prevent

Plan ahead and complete some simple home maintenance to reduce your risk if a flood impacts your area:

• Inventory your belongings using photos or video
• Create an emergency plan with a designated meeting place
• Pack a 72-hour emergency survival kit
• Clean drains, eavestroughs, downspouts, catch basins and gutters
• Check the grading and extend downspouts away from the foundation
• Seal cracks on all walls
• If you have a sump pump, make sure you have an automatic secondary backup
• Don’t dispose of fats, oil, grease or other objects in your sinks or toilets

During a flood: Protect

If a flood is imminent, take the following steps as soon as it’s safe:

• Shut off electrical, furnace, gas and water, and disconnect appliances if safe
• Move to higher ground
• Move valuables from the basement to upper floors
• Raise large appliances up on wood or cement blocks. If items can’t be raised, consider anchoring them and protecting them with a floodwall or shield
• Stay calm and listen for evacuation, boil-water or other advisories from authorities

After a flood: Persevere

Before you return home, ensure there’s safe drinking water, a working bathroom and sewer system, clearance from all utility providers, and the structure is safe – check for bucked walls, damaged floors, broken glass and debris.

Once home, take immediate steps to reduce and report any damage:

• Remove pooled water and damaged materials
• Look for signs of mould contamination within the first 24-48 hours
• Clean, disinfect and dry every flood-contaminated room
• Keep fans running
• Take pictures or video of the damage
• Report the damage to your insurance provider and local municipality
• When cleared by your insurer, dispose of your flood-damaged items according to local regulations

Your home holds everyone and everything you love and value most. We can help you protect it. To learn about a Co-operators Group Auto* and Home insurance program, visit our website.

Download/print a PDF infographic of this page.