The Official Site of The City of Markham
You can take the following steps to prepare for a flood and reduce the likelihood of damage
Before a Flood:
Flood Preparedness and Response Plan
Develop an emergency preparedness and response plan for your property and share it with your employees.
Review the City of Markham’s flood emergency preparedness recommendations and the TRCA’s flood preparedness tips to make sure you are protecting your business from damage.
See here for a template and instructions on how to complete your Flood Emergency Response Plan.
Here are some key items in the preparedness and response plan for flood emergencies:
| 1 |
Plans to relocate critical contents into higher floors, taking into account the time and attention needed to move such contents safely. Hazardous materials should be relocated or sealed. |
| 2 |
Notification to car owners to avoid parking their vehicles in flood-prone areas. |
| 3 |
Evacuation plans to ensure that occupants are not stranded in the building, including driving routes to avoid flooded roads. |
| 4 |
Turn off power, gas, and water at the main switch. |
| 5 |
Ensure sump pump is working; have a battery back-up. |
| 6 |
Clear eaves troughs, catch basins, culverts and drainage ditches. |
| 7 |
After the flood, do not enter your business until municipal authorities state it is safe to do so. |
| 8 |
Check building for foundation damage and make sure all overhangs are supported. |
| 9 |
Contact professionals for basement dewatering, cleaning of contaminated material and servicing appliances. |
Additional resources are available at York Region’s Business Continuity Template and Flooding: Health, Safety and Environmental Issues Fact Sheet.
Flood Insurance
Review your insurance policy to ensure you are adequately covered, and ensure your insurance coverage includes sewer back-up provisions. Visit the Insurance Bureau of Canada: Disaster – Water for flood protection and insurance tips.
The City of Markham has made significant infrastructure investments in flood control improvements, which will help protect public and private property and will make critical infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather. Markham is challenging the insurance industry to consider these changes as part of the insurance rate setting. You are encouraged to share information about the City’s flood mitigation work with your insurance agents as part of their policy renewal discussions.
During a Flood:
Remember that lives are more important than property. This is why sharing your Flood Preparedness and Response plan with all employees is key prior to a flood event. Key phone numbers and contacts to reach during a flood can be found on the back of this brochure.
After the Flood and Recovery:
- Do not enter your business until municipal authorities state it is safe to do so
- Check building for foundation damage
- Contact professionals for basement dewatering, cleaning of contaminated material and servicing appliances
If you have costs related to a natural disaster, visit The Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program to see if you qualify for assistance.
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