Flood safety tips ahead of Toronto’s spring rains, summer thunderstorms
Posted May 5, 2014 3:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Last July, Toronto endured one of the worst thunderstorms in decades that dumped 126 millimetres of rain in 90 minutes, flooding basements, creating flash floods in the city’s west end and downtown and costing the city tens of millions of dollars.
Events like that make it all the more important for residents to be prepared against flash flooding as spring and summer bring more heavy rains and thunderstorms, experts say.
Flash flooding usually happens with little or no advance warning, CityNews meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai said.
If you find yourself walking outside during heavy rains and water starts pooling around your ankles, remember that it only takes 15 centimetres of fast-moving water to sweep you off your feet.
“At that point, turn around and head to higher ground,” Ramsahai said.
If you find yourself driving during a heavy thunderstorm and you see water pooling on the road, don’t drive through it.
“You never know how deep it is, and it doesn’t take much to get cars buoyant and moving in fast-moving water,” Ramsahai said, adding it only takes 30 centimetres of water to float a car and 60 centimetres of water for an SUV or pickup to get swept away.
Ramsahai said if you find yourself in a flooding situation while driving, you’ve got to get out of the vehicle and get to higher ground.
“But if you find yourself getting caught up in that fast-moving water, what you want to do is get yourself in a back float position with your feet facing downstream and ride it out,” she said.
If you’re at home and there’s a potential for flooding, go outside and collect items that might float away. Also go to your electrical panel and shut everything off.
“But don’t touch it if there’s potential for thunderstorms,” said Ramsahai, adding that another reason not to touch the electrical panel is if there’s water in the room where it’s located.
Ramsahai also recommended not to touch flood waters if possible as it may be contaminated with insects, sharp objects, gas, oil and even raw sewage.
Click the following flood safety sites for more information:
