Flood prevention in your home and yard is your responsibility. If the snow melts quickly, your home may be at risk of flooding, even if you've never flooded before.

Tips to help reduce your risk of a snowmelt flood in your home:

(Some of the following tips involve snow shovelling which is heavy work. Consider doing a bit at a time and please use care and caution. Get help if you have health concerns.)

• Remove snow from around your foundation. Pay particular attention to the areas around window wells.
• Most lots drain along the outside edges. Remove snow from these areas.
• Keep the snow in your yard. Shovelling onto streets or lanes could block drains.
• Help keep catch basins clear. Where possible, safely clear snow, ice and debris from the catch basins in your area.
• Clear snow and ice from around the bottom of your downspouts and extend the downspouts at least two metres so that water drains away from your foundation.
• Check your roof and eavestroughs for excess snow. Consider hiring a professional to clear snow from your roof. A roof rake may help to clear the snow and debris from the edge of your roof.
• Consider using sandbags to block water from entering low lying areas beside your foundation.
• If water is getting close to your foundation, use an appropriate pump to drain it to the gutter or back lane. Please use all equipment properly and follow safety guidelines.