Safety Tips
One of the greatest risks to human life and property is flooding. People, especially young children, fail to recognize how even little depths of water and/or currents can create a large hazard. Make sure you know what to do during a flood emergency.
Safety Tips Around Flooding Rivers:
One of the greatest risks to human life and property is flooding. People, especially young children, fail to recognize how even little depths of water and/or currents can create a large hazard. Flooding is a natural and inevitable part of life, especially within areas that contain rivers and that are continually being urbanized. Urbanization can increase runoff 2 to 6 times more than it would under natural conditions. High Water Safety Bulletins, Flood Advisories, Flood Warnings and Lake Ontario Shoreline Hazard Warnings are the four types of messages issued by the on-call Flood Duty Officers. For more information on what these messages mean please click on the appropriate links. Make sure you know what to do during a flood emergency by considering the following:
- Do not attempt to rescue friends or pets from the river if they fall in because you may also be overcome by the force of the river. Call 911 for help immediately.
- Know if you live within a flood risk area.
- Make sure that you have a personal 72 hour survival kit ready for yourself and each member of your family in case you have to evacuate your home or shelter in place.
- Learn to be aware of the conditions at and near the rivers. Pay attention to rising water levels and floating slabs of ice.
- Always respect the power of water and exercise extreme caution around it.
- Stay at least 3m (10ft) from the edge of the river during rain events.
- Always have an adult or a friend present when walking or playing near a river or any other body of water.
- It is important to always wear the approved safety equipment such as a life jacket when playing around water.
- Watch for obstacles, debris or holes that could have been formed during flooding events.
- Be aware of the dangers of receding levels of water.
- Be prepared for disruptions to essential services and transportation.
- Listen to media reports for flood conditions prior to going out near rivers.
- Never swim during a rainfall event. After the event, check the water conditions (water depth, debris and location of rocks etc.) prior to going in the water.
- Be careful when walking near bodies of water as frozen banks and/or soft banks along the rivers can be slippery.
Safety Tips Around Stormwater Management Ponds:
- Exercise safety at all times around frozen ponds or bodies of water. Even if a pond appears to be frozen solid never attempt to go on the ice. If you see someone go through the ice do not attempt to rescue them - call 911 immediately.
- Never go swimming in stormwater management ponds and stay well back from the edge of the water.
- Be aware that the water level can rise rapidly in a stormwater management pond after a rainfall event.
- Storm ponds include safety features in their design, such as flat side slopes around the permanent pool (flatter areas at edges) and dense vegetation to keep the public away from hazardous areas. Be sure to follow the advice of posted warning signs and stay away from vegetated barriers.
Safety Tips Around Dams and Flood Control Structures:
- Stay well away from dams and other flood control structures.
- Avoid boating near dams.
- Do not attempt to walk across the tops of dams as there is a high potential to be carried away by swift currents.
- Avoid walking along the walls as these may be slippery, wet or icy.
- Heed warning signs near flood control structures.
Safety Tips on flooded roadways:
- It is not recommended to walk or drive on a flooded road.
- When approaching a flooded area in a car turn around and find another route. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and find higher ground.
- Underpasses and low-lying areas can fill up quickly with water during a storm resulting in surprisingly deep water. Do not attempt to drive through deep water. An average car cannot pass through water deeper than 0.3m (1ft).
