The City of Greater Sudbury is preparing for the potential of heavy rainfall this weekend and would like to pass on some tips to residents to keep themselves and their property safe.
Citizens are reminded there are things they can do to reduce the potential of basement flooding:
Improve your drainage system:
- Remove debris from your eaves troughs regularly.
- Make sure your downspouts include extensions that take runoff water at least six feet or 1.8 metres away from your basement walls and neighbouring properties. Another alternative is to position a rain barrel with a mosquito resistant covering under your downspout.
- Ensure the ground around your house slopes away from your foundation for a distance of at least six feet or 1.8 metres. The land around older homes can settle, bringing water toward the foundation rather than away from it.
- A sump pit drainage system — which includes a sump pit set into your basement floor, a sump pump and a drainage pipe — can be used to collect water from the weeping tiles that surround your basement walls and push the water away from your house via the drainage pipe. Make sure the drainage pipe takes the water to a place where it can be easily absorbed, a lawn or garden, for example.
- Clean the sump pit each year after freeze up and check the sump pump for debris at least once a year, preferably before the rainy season. A battery powered back-up sump pump can ensure your system continues to operate in the event of a power outage.
Overland flooding can occur when rainfall or snowmelt exceeds the capacity of underground pipes, or when a rainstorm exceeds the capacity of overland flow routes — streets, ditches, swales and parks designed to carry flood water away from urban areas. Flood water can enter homes through windows, doors, vents and other openings. Most insurance policies do not cover damages caused by overland flooding but there are some proactive steps property owners can take to minimize their risk.
-Identify and seal flood entry points
- Inspect and correct your lot grading
- Check storm sewer grates for debris
- Maintain drainage systems
Citizens are reminded that 9-1-1 should only be dialed to report a crime in progress or a life-threatening emergency situation. Reports of flooding should be directed to the City of Greater Sudbury call centre at 3-1-1. For more information on how to prepare for heavy rainfall, visit our website at www.greatersudbury.ca search: flood management
