Preparing for the flood season
Flood season in Quebec often occurs during the spring months, particularly from April to June, when the snow melts. An increase of rainfall can lead to rising water levels in rivers and lakes, causing flooding on low-lying grounds.
Flood preparedness
Flood preparedness is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of residents during flood events.
Here are some ways to prepare for a potential flood:
- Develop and maintain community-specific emergency response plans that explain roles and responsibilities, evacuation procedures, and resources needed during a flood event. The Red Cross supports communities in developing community-specific emergency response plans and offers resources.
- Establish effective early warning systems to alert community members of potential flooding. These systems may rely on monitoring of weather forecasts and water levels and may involve alerts from authorities.
- Examples of warning systems: notifying residents using SMS alerts, social media and/or radio; warning residents through the use of sirens.
- Stay updated on the weather forecast, flood warnings, and evacuation orders in your area. Listen to local radio stations and community announcements.
- Provide training and capacity building for community members on flood preparedness, response procedures, first aid, and other relevant skills to ensure they can respond effectively.
The Red Cross offers emergency management training to communities.
- Implement infrastructure improvements such as building or reinforcing levees, flood barriers, and drainage systems to reduce the risk of flooding.
- Engage community members in preparedness activities, raise awareness about flood risks, and involve them in planning and decision-making processes to enhance community resilience.
- Stockpile emergency supplies such as food, water, medications, and first aid kits, as well as emergency equipment such as generators and communication devices.
- Build shelters if possible.
Emergency kit
Here are six important items for each household to have in their emergency kit:
- Six litres of drinking water per person
- Canned food for at least three days
- Battery-operated radio and spare batteries
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Candles, lighter, or matches
- First aid kit containing adhesive bandages, scissors, skin disinfectants, etc.
Household Emergency Plan
- Always have your emergency kit on hand or close by.
- Have ready the contact information of the persons you will call in the event of an emergency (such as family members).
- Determine where family members should gather and conduct evacuation drills.
- Make sure you know how to turn off the water, electricity, and gas if needed.
- Make an inventory of all belongings for insurance purposes.
https://www.knorr.com/ph/tips-and-tricks/emergency-food-for-go-bag.html