Flood Preparedness for Your
Home
Flooding can happen because of heavy rainfall, snowmelt, storm surge, blocked drains, poor drainage, or plumbing issues. Climate change is expected to make heavy rainfall more common in PEI, which can increase flood risk for homes and communities.
How can I prepare for flooding?
Watch this short video to learn practical ways to reduce flood risk around your home, protect belongings, and prepare before heavy rain or flooding occurs.
Why can flooding happen?
Flooding does not only affect coastal properties. Homes can flood when water collects around the foundation, enters through basement windows, backs up through drains, or overwhelms drainage systems.
Common causes include:
Heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall can overwhelm storm drains, ditches, culverts, and yard drainage, causing water to collect around homes and enter basements or low-lying areas.
Snowmelt
Rapid snowmelt can create excess runoff, especially when the ground is frozen or already saturated and cannot absorb water quickly.
Storm surge
Storm surge happens when seawater is pushed onto land during coastal storms, increasing flood risk for coastal and low-lying areas.
Blocked drains, ditches, or culverts
Leaves, ice, sediment, or debris can block drainage pathways and prevent water from flowing away from roads, yards, and buildings.
Plumbing or sewer backup
Water can back up into a home through floor drains, toilets, sinks, or other plumbing when sewer or drainage systems are overwhelmed.
Poor drainage around the home
If the ground slopes toward a building, or if downspouts release water too close to the foundation, water can collect near the home and increase the risk of basement flooding.
Use this checklist to reduce flood risk
The checklist below includes practical maintenance and preparedness steps that can help reduce flood risk around your home and protect belongings before flooding happens.
Flooding and Home Resilience Checklist
Downloadable PDF
Note
Once you have reviewed the checklist, consider whether you need additional help. A qualified professional may be able to assess drainage, sump pumps, backwater valves, foundation issues, or other flood protection measures for your home.
Disclaimer: This checklist is designed to help buyers better understand potential coastal hazards and ask informed questions about a property. Completing the checklist does not guarantee that coastal hazards or future damage will be prevented. Buyers should seek professional advice and request a Coastal Hazard Assessment before purchasing or developing coastal property.