Spring Changes

As the warmer temperatures, sunnier days, and flowers draw near, spring also has the potential to cause flooding as the snow melts and the rain falls. Basements, streets, and underpasses are all at risk as a result.

In the future, Edmonton’s spring season is expected to be wetter through a combination of earlier snow melting from warmer temperatures and increased springtime precipitation. Rainfall is also expected to be heavier, with larger amounts of rain falling over short periods of time. So what does this mean for us living here in Edmonton? How can we prepare for flood conditions?

There are a number of things you can do to help protect your home from water damage. Spend some time cleaning out your eavestroughs, installing a sump pump and backwater valve, and getting a start on landscaping projects to slope your yard so that water drains away from your home. EPCOR offers a number of programs and services to help homeowners prepare for flooding. The City and EPCOR also work together on projects such as Low Impact Development (LID) to maximize water retention in places that need water in order to minimize damage from flooding. Learn more about flood mitigation.

In addition to preparing your home before an event, there are important steps you can take during and after a flooding event. During heavy rainfall events you should minimize your use of water; water treatment and sewage systems are already working at full capacity dealing with excess water. Ensure your eavestrough extensions are down and rain barrel overflow spouts carry water away from your foundation. If the rain causes a flooding event, be sure to clean up and dry out your basement as quickly as possible. It is also important to call your insurance company as soon as possible if your home sustains flood damage. Find more helpful tips on what to do during and after flooding events.

The last thing to be mindful about in the spring is flooding of roadways, underpasses, and bodies of water like the river or stormwater management ponds. With warmer spring weather, sudden melting or rainfall events can cause roadways and underpasses to go from dry to flooded within minutes. When this happens be sure not to drive through a flooded underpass, even if it looks shallow. As little as two feet of water can cause problems for most vehicles, and there may be hidden dangers like missing drain covers that you can’t see. Learn more about keeping safe from flooded underpasses.

When it comes to the North Saskatchewan River or stormwater management ponds, keep your distance from the banks and stick to official trails. Thin ice, fast flowing water, and changing water levels can be hazardous. You can learn more about stormwater management ponds. We can also find out more about stream advisories and flood warnings about the North Saskatchewan River and its tributaries.

So as warmer days and greener grass approaches, be sure to prepare your home and yourself for the possible flooding events that come with melting snow and spring rain. To learn more about precipitation and what you can do to protect your home, you can check out last month's blog, “A Tiny Explanation: Changing Precipitation”.

And to learn more about flood prevention at home, check out the recorded webinar from our Lunchbox Series.

For more information about adapting your home to a changing climate, visit climateresilienthome.ca.