Durham Region launches powerful new flood resource for residents

Whitby, Ontario – Residents in the Region of Durham now have access to a new website with information and resources about flood risk and resilience in their community. Created in partnership with local municipalities, conservation authorities, and the Climate Risk Institute, Flood Ready Durham is part of a larger multi-stakeholder project to raise awareness about flooding and the climate-related impacts across the Region.

The website includes information about the main types of flooding observed in Durham, like riverine flooding when our rivers and creeks overflow their banks, urban flooding in cities, and shoreline flooding along Lake Ontario. Knowing these distinctions is important so residents know who to call when flooding occurs. An easy-to-navigate Region-wide floodplain mapping viewer is also available, which allows residents to access and identify their exposure to riverine flooding. Knowing your risk is the first step towards being informed and prepared.

When it comes to increasing resilience and reducing flood risk, the Flood Ready Durham website hosts a suite of products and content that have been tailored to Durham Region, including:

• How to access flood messaging and watershed conditions from your local Conservation Authority.
• Tips for creating emergency plans and 72-hour emergency kits for you and your family.
• Information on how to talk to your neighbours to plan and support each other in an emergency, especially those who may be more vulnerable.
• Ways to make your home more resilient with links to resources from FloodSmart Canada and the Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation.
• Tips on talking to your insurance professional about flood insurance.

This work was made possible, in part, by funding awarded to the Region through the National Disaster Mitigation Program from Infrastructure Canada in early 2021, and addresses a major component of Durham’s Community Climate Adaptation Plan.

Quotes:

“Our focus is on preparing the community to respond and adapt to changes in our climate. By collaborating with communities and stakeholders on this work, we hope to develop solutions that will establish a resilient community despite these changes. The Flood Ready Durham website will continue to grow as we keep adding resources and updating with our progress. We hope that this website can be a trusted, centralized place that Durham residents turn to access high quality, evidence-based information about flooding and flood risk, both now and into the future.”

– Ian McVey, Manager of Sustainability, Region of Durham

“Flood risk management involves ensuring residents are informed and prepared to manage flooding in their homes, places of work, and when they are travelling around the Region. By allowing residents to investigate whether they are in the floodplain and receive information on how to increase their resilience, this encourages people to take action to protect themselves and their family and potentially minimize the damage flooding can cause.”

– Kirsten MacMillan, Climate Resiliency Specialist, Climate Risk Institute

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