flooded + forgotten: after the rain

photo by Dayna Stein

Author: Dayna Stein B.Sc, M.Sc.

Toronto's recent storm left more than just water damage—it highlighted the urgent need for climate action. Dive in to see how flooding ties into broader issues and discover practical steps for a more resilient future! 

Last Tuesday’s storm hit Toronto hard, flooding many basements - including my childhood home - with 3 inches of water throughout. Beyond the financial loss, ruined possessions, and lost memories, what struck me most was the shear amount of waste from just one home. Two full dump trucks already, more to go. Below, I've compiled ways we could have improved our flood preparedness. 

photo by City of Toronto, Aug 19, 2005 Storm

flooding and the Big C

This recent flood is not an isolated incident but a stark reminder of how climate change is influencing weather patterns. Increasingly severe storms and heavy rainfall are direct consequences of a warming planet. As global temperatures rise, the atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to intense storms and flooding that communities are increasingly ill-prepared to handle.

The link between climate change and overconsumption is crucial to understanding the broader impact of flooding. Our high consumption rates contribute to the carbon emissions driving climate change, which in turn exacerbates extreme weather events like flooding. This cycle of overconsumption not only accelerates climate change but also increases the volume of waste generated from flood damage, compounding the environmental and economic costs.

what can I do to prepare?

1. Do NOT store items directly on basement floors: Raise important items off the ground by a few inches to a few feet
2. Have an emergency plan and a 72 hour emergency kit. Make a plan with your neighbours to keep each other safe 
3. Seal Cracks: Regularly inspect and seal any cracks in your foundation or basement walls to prevent water entry. 
4. Declutter Gutters: Keep gutters clean and test them to ensure there are no leaks allowing water to overflow and run straight down to your foundation
5. Divert Downspouts: Disconnect from the sewer system and redirect them to your yard or garden with the point of discharge at least 2m away from your foundation. This is actually mandatory in the City of Toronto.
6. Clear Grates: storm sewer grates can easily clog with yard waste, leaves, garbage, snow, ice, etc. 
7. Install a Sewer Cleanout: A 4"pipe connected directly to your sewer line and installed by a licensed plumber. It allows you to snake a camera in and check if your sewer pipe is clogged by roots 
8. Never pour fats, grease, oils, paper towel down the drain. They go in the green bin. 
9. Regrade your lot: Build up soil to divert water away from your home vs toward your foundation. Shovel snow 1.5-2m away from foundation. Keep snow on your own yard to not block drains on streets.
10. Seal Gaps: Always check basement windows and window wells for gaps and seal immediately. Ensure wells sit at least 15cm below the base of your window.
11. Got a reverse slope driveway? Construct a speed bump barrier at the street level to divert rainwater from overflowing the drain at the bottom near your garage door. 
12. Replace leaking weeping tiles with a sump pump. Cap the end of the weeping tile pipe. Install a second backup battery powered sump pump. Check sump pumps before each storm to ensure they're working properly. 
13. Install a backwater valve. The backwater valve prevents sewage from backing up into your basement from the city pipes when they are overloaded with rainwater. Do not flush your toilets, do laundry or send any water down the drain when it's activated. 
14. Consider a rain garden or green driveway to collect stormwater. Install rain barrels and drain them often.  

photo by Winston Neutel

what can our governments do?

Here are some policy recommendations for managing extreme precipitation and flood risk in our increasingly warm, wet and wild climate.

1. hazard mapping - identify and assess flood prone areas, pinch points, vulnerable infrastructure and at-risk communities
2. long term structural measures - upgrade stormwater infrastructure, retrofit buildings, invest in erosion control, protect critical assets (by elevating, relocating, or strengthening their flood resistant design), and remove electrical equipment and homes from floodplains. Use blue-green infrastructure best practices and nature-based solutions
3. community preparedness - foster education, outreach and training programs to enhance local readiness
4. build redundancy - ensure technical systems like communication, backup power, physical infrastructure (i.e. roads) are resilient to maintain essential services like healthcare
5. recovery planning - using culturally relevant and equitable response strategies. Prioritize mental health support for those who traumatized by extreme weather
6. affordable insurance - that encourages homeowners to invest in flood prevention measures 
7. low impact development - restrict development in floodplains, prohibit reverse slope driveways, and encourage green/blue roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and flood storage in public lands

Individual action and systemic change are urgent. By reducing waste and preparing better for climate crises, we build resilience. Mindful consumption, community preparedness, and policy reform can lessen future floods and the associated aftermath. Let’s turn this experience into a push for a more resilient and adaptable environment.

useful resources: 

- Ontario Flood Map

- City of Toronto Basement Flooding Videos

- City of Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program $3400

- Handbook for Reducing Basement Flooding 

- Cost-Effective Home Flood Protection 

- Free online training for all mortgage professionals, home inspectors and insurance brokers

- Flood Smart Canada