Floods

Be flood prepared

Floods are the most frequent natural hazards in Canada, and the most costly in terms of property damage. Floods can occur in any region, in the countryside or in cities. In the past, floods have affected hundreds of thousands of Canadians. They can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of a thick snow pack, ice jams, or more rarely, the failure of a natural or human-made dam. Find out more from FloodSmart Canada.

In the Kootenays, snowpack and weather-related events, including flooding, are common occurrences in the spring. The RDCK is asking residents and visitors to take the following steps to be flood prepared:

• Flood Information for Homeowners and Home Buyers
  
• Learn more about the RDCK Flood Map Study & the Risk Prioritization Study.

Take steps to protect your home and property

Residents are responsible for securing their home and property in the event of a disaster—sand bagging is one example. In advance of the freshet/flooding season, Emergency Management BC provides sand bags to residents if the need becomes apparent.

Sandbags

In advance of the freshet/flooding season, Emergency Management BC provides sandbags to residents if the need becomes apparent. In such cases, unfilled sandbags and sand would be available for residents who are experiencing or want to be prepared for flooding. Information about where to pick up sandbags and sand is shared with residents as needed.

Learn more about sandbagging from PreparedBC.

Recommended method for sandbag diking

Sandbag Safety for Volunteers [PDF – 1 MB]

Related Links