The federal warning system for coastal flooding is expanding to new areas across the country.
On June 6, Environment and Climate Change Canada announced that it had expanded its coastal flooding prediction and alert program the month prior. Previously, ECCC only issued warnings for the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The department says that once the program is fully implemented, alerts will now be available for Canada’s Pacific and Arctic coasts, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence.
“This new program will allow ECCC meteorologists to issue coastal flooding alerts and forecasts using both the probability and expected impact of an event,” said ECCC spokesperson Nicole Allen in a statement. The alerts can be made up to five days out from the date of forecast.
Most Canadians can access the warnings on ECCC’s weather website and app, Weatheradio, and the “Hello Weather” automated telephone service. Residents of Ontario will continue to receive coastal flooding alerts from the province.
Pink shaded areas indicate coastal flooding zones. Coastlines and shorelines in Ontario are not included as the province will continue to issue flood warnings. Photo Courtesy of ECCC.
“People are impacted by floods in so many ways,” says Sharmalene Mendis-Millard, the director of Partners for Action, a flood resilience research project at the University of Waterloo. She points to the financial, health, and day-to-day repercussions that flooding can cause. “To be able to know in advance is a way to empower people and give them the ability to protect themselves.”
Only six per cent of Canadians who live in flood-risk areas know that they’re at risk, according to a study from Partners for Action. Mendis-Millard hopes that the expanded program will help spread awareness about being prepared for flooding and what comes afterwards.
As the risk of flooding along Canada’s coasts continues to rise due to climate change, the ability to alert people to risks gives them time to protect themselves as well as their properties. This risk has also risen along other waterways in the country, including the Great Lakes.
“When we take a long view of floods and flood risks, we no longer think about flooding as the traditional spring flood,” says Jayne Thompson, the communications and GIS-IT coordinator for the Maitland Conservation Authority in southwestern Ontario.
As the ice rapidly melts on the area’s neighbouring Lake Huron and spring rain comes down, it’s typical for the region to experience some flooding. But over the last 20 years in particular, Thompson says that Maitland has seen flooding stretching into the summer, with some of its most significant floods occurring in June.
“Usually we can see a spring flood coming,” she says. “But these are different kinds of floods. There’s less lead time for something like this.”
The ECCC news release also noted a shift in terminology when discussing floods. Prior to the expansion of the program, ECCC issued alerts for coastal flooding in Atlantic Canada and Quebec using the term “storm surge.” Storm surges happen when wind from a major storm pushes water onto the coast.
Now, the department will use the term coastal flooding—which can be caused by storm surges, large waves, and high tides—to more accurately describe the event. Some regions, including Quebec and the territories, will continue to use storm surge. Thompson says that this language is more understandable for people who don’t have properties on an ocean coast.
Protecting your cottage from floods
There are a number of steps that cottagers can take to protect themselves, and their properties, from flooding. First, knowing your risk is key, says Thompson.
“If you’re thinking about purchasing a cottage property, do a background check on the area. If you happen to be in an area with a conservation authority, check out their flood map,” she says. “There are things you can do to mitigate the risk.”
If you know your cottage is located in a flood-prone area, look into insurance options for flood protection. You can also invest in items such as a waterproof safe to protect your valuables, and backwater valves or sump pumps to redirect water away from your property. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency go-bag with supplies such as bottled water, a battery-operated flashlight, and photocopies of important documents.
Bottom line? A warning system like this should allow people to get faster access to this important information, says Mendis-Millard. “Increasing awareness and early warning systems will help people get out of harm’s way.”
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