It's Flooding - Now What? Be Flood Smart!

Stay health conscious
Take steps to avoid illness during floods. Learn and take time to disinfect your water supply.

Stay safe on the roads
Make room on the roads for first-responders. During a flood emergency stay off disaster response routes unless you are a disaster responder or designated emergency supplier. Keep disaster routes open so supplies can be transported to communities quickly and effectively!

Stay smart with electrical & gas
Water, gas and live electrical wires can be a lethal combination! If flooding occurs, leave immediately after turning off the main power switch. Do not attempt to turn it off once water has entered your home or building. Avoid touching touch damp walls and do not enter flooded basements or buildings that may contain energized electrical wiring or appliances. If you smell gas, or if there is evidence of a gas leak, don't enter the building. Call your local fire department or 911 and return only after local authorities indicate it is safe to do so.

Stay wise on the water
Boating is not recommended during a flooding situation. However, if you are forced to boat in a flooded area,  avoid power lines, as the water level may cause your boat to be too close to electrical wires. Do not travel by boat at night and wear a lifejacket!

Get "The Guide"
Clean-up after a flood can sometimes feel overwhelming. Take it one step at a time. Emergency Management BC's Guide to Disaster Recovery can help get you started.

ABOUT EMERGENCY SOCIAL SERVICES
If you are placed on evacuation order contact your local authority to inquire about short-term assistance. Assistance may include food, lodging, clothing, emotional support, family reunification to help British Columbians who are forced to leave their homes because of flooding.

ABOUT THE DISASTER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
If a person experiences damage from a flooding disaster they should first contact their local government. Emergency Management BC supports and works with local governments to determine if and when an event should be eligible for B.C.'s Disaster Financial Assistance Program (DFA). The DFA program helps those impacted by a disaster cope with the cost of repairs and recovery from uninsurable disaster-related property damage. Summary of DFA Program [PDF].

Eligibility

• Disaster Financial Assistance is only available for provincial disasters after the provincial government has declared the disaster eligible for DFA.
• The purpose of DFA is to provide assistance to individuals for their principal residence and to help small business/farm owners when their livelihood is at risk.
• Damage must be from an event that is uninsurable including overland flooding and groundwater seepage.
• Insurable damages such as snow load; wind damage; sewer or sump pit back-up; water entry from above ground including roofs, windows or other areas of the building, are not eligible for DFA.

Local government can reference Top 10 Essentials to Disaster Financial Assistance and find program information on the Emergency Management BC website.

Remember the best defense to a flooding situations is preparation and planning!