It is not too late if your property has not yet been affected, but in any situation, take heed of the advice below and call 311 for more information.
Call 911 for Emergencies only.
Before the flood
· Make sure you have a 72-hour emergency kit and decide in advance where you could take shelter (with family, friends, etc.)
· Contact your insurer to check if you are covered for water backflow, groundwater infiltration and river overflow.
· Make sure that your sump pump is in good working order and that your sewer check valve is watertight.
· Move items from the basement or ground floor upstairs or store them high above floor level
· Store objects that could be carried away by the flowing water (garden chairs, dock, etc.)
· Protect all openings to your buildings (windows, doors, garage, etc.) by forming a low wall out of sand bags.
· Keep your catch basins, gutters and ditches clear of all water drainage obstructions (ice, branches, tree leaves, etc.)
· Keep up to date on the level of the rivers and the weather conditions as well as the City’s recommendations
During the flood
· Phone 911 to report a situation where the life, health or safety of a person is threatened.
· Turn off the electricity if the water has started to rise and is advancing toward electrical components. Make sure your feet are on a dry surface and use a wooden stick to cut off the power. If necessary, call a master electrician or contact Hydro-Québec to have the power supply interrupted.
· Close the main entrance to the natural gas supply and close the valves on propane or oil tanks.
· You can install pumps to drain water from your home or dike enclosure while following the manufacturer’s instructions for use, according to the types of pump and power source selected
· If water is flowing back through the floor drain or sewer lines, block it with some cloth rags.
· Follow the flood-related updates on the radio, television or Internet.
· Follow the safety procedures that are issued by authorities.
· Call 311 to report that your building is flooded or that you are evacuating your home or returning there or to request information or non-emergency assistance (sandbags, etc.).
It is important not to use any motor-driven pump operating on any type of fuel (propane or gasoline) inside your home, in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Drinking water supply wells and septic systems
Drinking water supply wells could be contaminated if they are submerged. Their water should then be considered non-drinkable until the floodwater has receded, the well is cleaned and disinfected and a quality test confirms that the water is safe to drink.
Septic tanks may be clogged due to the spring flooding. This may cause a significant drop in pressure and even make your plumbing fixtures unusable.
For as long as your septic system continues to be submerged and the water table remains high, it is important :
· to reduce your use of—and even stop using—certain facilities that discharge water into your septic system (for example, your toilets, shower, washing machine, etc.)
· to avoid all contact with the water from the septic system
· not to empty the septic tank
If you suspect chemical contamination, do not drink the water.
Health risks
The Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de Laval can give you information if you are worried about your family’s health or your own, with regard to mould, unsanitary conditions, etc. In case of doubt, you may consult the Laval en santé website or phone 811.
