Flood prevention and spring flooding
Prevent flooding!
During heavy rains, a home is vulnerable to water damage such as: water infiltration, equipment breakdowns or sewer back-up.
It is recommended that you have your property inspected regularly to maintain it, detect any defects and take corrective action, if necessary.
Compliance with standards and bylaws is also required. Preventive measures may be taken as well.
1. Exterior building envelope
Make a regular visual inspection of cladding, foundations and caulking to detect any defects and have a professional carry out any necessary repairs.
2. Gutters and downspouts
Extend downspouts to keep water away from the foundation and driveway leading to a basement garage, if your home has one.
3. Sloping grounds on property
Landscape your grounds to keep water away from the building.
4. Sump pump
Every year, check that it is in good working order.
5. Check valve (also called a “non-return valve”)
A check valve is a simple device. It allows water to flow in one direction only, i.e. toward municipal facilities. A check valve has a slanting flap that closes when water tries to flow in the opposite direction, thereby protecting your home.
Under Bylaw 802 on construction, this required protective device must be installed on all horizontal connections of equipment carrying wastewater, such as plumbing fixtures, floor drains, retention pits, oil separators, tanks, interceptors and other pipes or siphons installed in basements or cellars.
6. Driveway below street level
An old driveway built below street level must be constructed with an elevation so as not to catch runoff water from the street and must have a drain before the access door.
The Town of Rosemère cannot be held responsible if water infiltration occurs where your devices and equipment do not comply with the various bylaws in effect.
We encourage you to read the document La gestion des eaux… une histoire de réseaux (French only) for advice on standards and good practices to prevent water infiltration
in basements.
Spring flooding
Please note that the Town’s employees is monitoring the situation and is ready to intervene quickly if necessary.
Questions?
Citizens can contact the Public Works Department directly for any questions regarding flooding at 450 621-3500 ext. 3300. For emergency calls, please dial 911.
It is the citizen's responsibility to ensure that they do what is necessary to protect their property.
Electricity
If the flood cannot be prevented but water has not yet started coming into the basement:
Cut the power to the whole house to prevent any risk of electric shock or fire by doing the following:
- Make sure you aren’t standing on a wet floor or leaning on anything made of metal.
- Flip the main breaker off.
If water has started coming into the basement:
Don’t touch anything! Call Hydro-Québec right away at1 800 790-2424 to have service to the meter or pole cut.
Preventive measures and emergency kit
Residents concerned are being urged to take certain preventive measures to ensure their safety and limit material damage:
· Move valuables from the basement to the ground floor as well as any other basement items that can be brought upstairs.
· Keep chemicals and toxic products, such as insecticides and other flammable products, in a safe place.
· Block floor drains in the basement to prevent water backflow.
We also invite you to prepare an emergency kit.
Emergency Kit
Always have the following items in your home. Ideally, they should be placed in a backpack or a storage bin:
- Drinking water — two litres per person per day, for at least 3 days;
- Non-perishable food — enough for at least 3 days;
- Manual can opener;
- Battery-operated radio — spare batteries;
- Flashlight or headlamp — spare batteries, or a hand-crank flashlight or headlamp;
-Lighter or matches and candles;
- First Aid kit — antiseptic, pain medication, adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, scissors, etc.;
- Whistle — to signal your presence to rescuers;
- Dust masks — to filter contaminated air;Map or GPS;
- Compass;
- Sunglasses and sun lotion;
- Pocketknife;
- Small toolbox;
- Tent, sleeping bag and foam mat;
- Camping stove, fuel and kitchen utensils;
- Personal care items;
- Over-the-counter medications (antihistamine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.);
- Prescription medications (prescribed by your doctor);
- Garbage bags;
- Hiking shoes or boots; - Waterproof clothing;
- Spare clothes;
- A deck of cards, books, magazines.
The first seven items will make it possible for you and your family to survive during the first 3 days of an emergency situation, while you wait for rescue or for essential services to be re-established.
To learn more about the situation, visit Québec Sécurité publique’s website.
Let’s be prepared!