Flooding

Be prepared

Now is a good time for you to prepare to take care of your own basic needs for at least 72 hours following a major disaster.

Learn more about:

• Emergency plans
  
• Emergency preparedness

For more information visit the Environment Canada website.

Concerns with flood water

Avoid direct contact with flood water, as it can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals and other objects. Flood water can get into the plumbing lines in your home.

If you have a private well, test your well water supply to check if it is safe to drink or use. Those who are pregnant, sick, the elderly, children and infants should take extra care. If you think there is harmful bacteria in your well water, boil water rapidly for one at least minute before using for:

• Drinking
• Making baby formula, juices, ice or recipes
• Washing food or dishes
• Brushing your teeth
• Rinsing contact lenses

Chemicals could also be a danger in your well water. Contact an accredited laboratory to discuss your specific testing needs.

After a flood, the structure of your well could be damaged. Contact a certified well technician to inspect your well.

For a report on flooding in your area please contact your local conservation authority or visit Conservation Ontario.

Food safety and floods

When returning to your home after a flood you may need to check the safety of food that was in your home.

If the power was off, the foods you kept in the fridge and freezer may not be safe to eat.

Follow these tips to ensure food safety:

• Install shelves that will store your food high above any flood waters.
• Throw away food that may have gotten wet from the flood or storm water.
• Throw away food that smells bad, or looks and feels unusual.
• Throw away canned foods that are home-made, bulging, opened, or damaged.

Throw away food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, soda pop bottle caps, twist caps, flip tops, and ones that snap-open as you cannot properly clean the outside of the container without affecting the food inside.

Sealed cans that come in contact with flood or storm water can be cleaned by removing the label, washing the cans, and then dipping them in a mixture of bleach and water (one cup of bleach in five gallons of water). Relabel cans to include expiration date.

Throw away meats, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers that were stored in a fridge without power for four hours. Food inside a full freezer should be safe for up to 48 hours after a power failure if the doors have been closed. Food inside a half full freezer should be safe for 24 hours after a power failure if the doors have been closed.

Thawed food that has ice crystals or is 4°C or below can be refrozen or cooked.

Do not use water that has been affected with flood or storm water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice or make baby formula.

Learn more about food safety during a power outage.

Learn about what you need to know when the power goes out unexpectedly and keeping food safe during an emergency.

Flooding and drinking water

If the water in your well was affected by flooding:

• Stop using the water from your home immediately.
• Test your well water first before using.
• Do not use the water even if you have a disinfection system. You may want to get bottled water or hauled water as a backup supply.

Find additional information from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Is your water from a privately owned well? Water sample bottles are available for pick-up and drop-off at various locations.

Durham Region's municipal water supply is treated and tested, and meets the requirements of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. If this supply ever became unsafe to use, customers would be notified through radio, TV, internet, social media and any other available channels.

Sewage systems and floods

If your private sewage system floods, it can be very dangerous for you and your family. It may result in sewage backing up into your home or the drinking water supply being unsafe.

Before flooding

• Check that your septic tank is full of liquid.
• Avoid pumping the tank in high-water season as an empty tank can rise to the surface of the ground during a flood.
• Plug floor drains to keep sewage from backing up into the basement of your home.

During flooding

• Stop using your sewage system and if possible, use portable toilets.
• If the soil is soaked and flooded the sewage will not be treated before entering groundwater.
• Avoid using water.
• Shut off power to a sewage lift pump or in a pump chamber.

After flooding

• Do not use your sewage system until water in the leaching bed is lower than the water level around the house.
• If you suspect your septic system is damaged, contact a licensed sewage system contractor.
• If the sewage system backs up into your house, check the tank first for outlet blockage. Pump the septic tank as soon as possible after the flood once the soil is no longer flooded.
• Don't use heavy equipment over the leaching bed as this may lead to the sewage a system getting damaged.
• Take a look at the grass over your septic tank and leaching bed. Repair any damage caused by erosion and re-seed to provide a new grass cover.

Learn more about sewer back ups and reporting basement flooding.

Flooding and other dangers

After the flood is over, dangers could still be around your home and property.

Here are some things keep in mind as you recover from a flood:

• Vermin and pests may look for shelter in your home as the flood waters may have forced them out of their natural homes.
• Electrical dangers might be present so make sure to contact your local power distributor or the Electrical Safety Authority for instructions.
• Floods may leave pools of water that encourage mosquito breeding. Where possible, empty water from pails/drums, children's toys, tires, garbage bins, and any other containers that can hold water. Certain mosquitoes carry West Nile Virus which causes West Nile Virus infection.

Cleaning up after a flood

If you have a lot of damage from a flood which involves significant cleaning, we recommend you contact a professional for help.

If there is not much damage and your septic system was not affected, we recommend you follow these cleaning instructions.

First assemble equipment and supplies such as:

• Gloves, masks (N95 respirator), eye protector, gowns and any other protective items you may want to use.
• Pails, mops, squeegees and plastic garbage bags.
• Unscented detergent.
• Large containers for wet bedding and clothing and lines to drying.
• You may also need to get extension cords, pumps that can function in water, wet/dry shop vacuums, dehumidifiers and heaters.

Then follow these steps:

• Work from top down.
• Break out all ceilings (including ceiling tiles) and walls that have been soaked or that have absorbed water.
• Remove all soaked and dirty materials, including wet insulation, dry wall, gypsum board walls, furniture, appliances, clothing and bedding, including materials at least 500 mm (20 in.) above the high-water line.
• Hose down any dirt sticking to the walls and furniture, rinsing several times then drying with a wet/dry vacuum.
• Remove all water with pumps or pails then use a wet/dry vacuum. Remove mud and other dirt also.
• Rinse and clean all floors as quickly as possible. Flooring that has be deeply soaked by flood waters should be discarded.

Clean and dry out your home:

• Household items that are wet for a long time or badly damaged by the flood will have to be bagged, tagged and thrown out following your local regulations and requirements.

How to clean surfaces:

• Wash and wipe/scrub down all surfaces with unscented detergent and water.
• Clean concrete surfaces with a solution of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) in water while wearing gloves and eye protection.
• Vacuum surfaces with a HEPA filter vacuum which are dry and not affected by flood water.
• Use a vacuum-sander to remove surface mould from wood. If the mould cannot be removed, you will need to replace the wood.
• Make sure carpets are dried in two days. If the carpet is soaked, it must be discarded.
• All building supports (i.e. beams) and structures must be completely dry before closing up walls and spaces.

After cleaning, you'll want to make sure you ventilate or dehumidify your home until is it completely dry. Rapid drying is important to prevent mould growth.

• Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• FloodSmart Canada
• Canadian Red Cross - Six tips to prepare for flooding
• Conservation Ontario
• Alberta Health Services
• Environment Canada
• Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit