Before
Heavy rainfall can sometimes arrive without warning and quickly cause flooding. Certain actions taken upstream can help to better react to disasters. Here are the suggestions from the Quebec government:
– Check if his accommodation is located in an area at risk of flooding.
– Prepare an emergency kit that contains the items needed to survive for at least three days and keep it in an accessible place.
– Draw up a list with the contact details of people to contact in the event of an emergency.
– Have an evacuation plan for your home and neighborhood. Plan a second trip.
– Know how to turn off the water, electricity and gas, if necessary.
– Make an inventory of his belongings and keep a copy of his home and automobile insurance policies outside his home.
– Find out if your insurer covers flood-related losses.
– Protect your home as much as possible.
During
If you notice that a flood is in progress in your area and you are not in immediate danger, here are the steps to follow:
– Dial 911 if the health or safety of people or the safety of a building is in question, indicates Audrey Gauthier, communications officer for the City of Montreal. To report situations related to municipal infrastructure or facilities, or to report flooding, dial 311.
– Follow the evolution of the situation with the public authorities and the media. Staying on the lookout makes it possible to determine the urgency of the situation and to know the instructions and recommendations of the authorities.
– If the authorities ask you to evacuate your home, go to a shelter or any other place indicated by the authorities.
– If there is no evacuation notice and you stay at home:
o Turn off the power only if water has not yet entered the house. If water has entered, do not touch it and contact Hydro-Québec to cut off the power.
o Check that tap water is drinkable before consuming it.
o Check the quality of food before consuming it if you are without electricity for more than six hours.
After
Whether you had to leave your home or not, here are the first steps to follow once you are safe, according to the Government of Quebec and Danielle Maltais, full professor at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi and director of the Institutional Research Chair on traumatic events, mental health and resilience:
– Inform the municipality that his dwelling is flooded.
– If the accommodation is flooded but has not been evacuated, also report the disaster to the Red Cross and to the accommodation center in its sector.
– Check that his house is safe before returning to it.
– Assess the damage and contact your insurer.
– Inquire about their eligibility for available financial assistance or compensation.
– Replace necessary cards, permits or certificates.
– Do not hesitate to ask for psychosocial help, available by dialing 811.