Protect Your Property from Flooding

Help save your property from flooding.

Prior to a storm

Check that your window wells or basement door drains are free flowing by running water through them and seeing if the water drains satisfactorily. If not, clear the drains.

If you have a sump pump in your basement, check that it is in working order by lifting up the float. The pump should kick in. If your pump does not kick in, or if you have had problems with your pump on other occasions, you should consider replacing it, or having your plumber check it out.

During a storm

If you have a sump pump and a power outage occurs during a storm, the pump will not protect your basement. Consider getting a battery backup or generator, available at hardware stores.

Public sewers can block or be overloaded during a storm. The National Plumbing Code requires that you have a back water valve installed to prevent your home basement from flooding due to the street storm being blocked or overloaded. You should check that you have a back water valve. You should also check that the valve is in good operating order by unscrewing the valve lid, or by calling a plumber.

If you are aware that water runs towards your house during a storm, you may be able to avoid damage during a storm by placing sandbags.

We also recommend reviewing Three Steps to Cost-Effective Home Flood Protection, an action-focused one page infographic, to help families protect their homes from the Canada's number one threat to home safety - flooding.

If your basement becomes flooded...

If your basement has water backing in it, do not enter the basement until you have had the power cut off by Newfoundland Power. Doing so risks electrocution. City staff are instructed not to enter a basement with water ponding in it unless the power has been cut off from the outside.

Dangers along coastal areas...

The City cautions persons to avoid approaching open coastal areas where wave action may be significant and pose a hazard such as Cape Spear and areas along the East Coast Trail.

After the storm

Flood water can be heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants and may pose a serious health hazard. The provincial government offers advise on how to restore your home to sanitary conditions after a flood.