TORONTO

Flood recovery steps for drivers, homeowners

Emily Pratt CTVNews.ca
Published Tuesday, July 9, 2013 5:07PM EDT

Cars are submerged in water during a severe thunderstorm that dropped record rainfall on the city of Toronto, Monday, July 8, 2013. (Photo courtesy of Scott Westlake)

Text:

Residents in the GTA are facing the daunting task of cleaning up flood damage after a sudden record-breaking storm hit the city on Monday.

The torrential downpour during the evening rush-hour commute left vehicles submerged in the streets, basements flooded and residents without power.

Here are important steps residents need to take to deal with the flood aftermath.

Submerged vehicle

Flooded streets trapped drivers across the GTA and forced them to abandoned their cars, submerging some in window-high water.

Silvana Aceto, media and public relations specialist for the Canadian Automobile Association of South Central Ontario (CAA SCO), says vehicles that drove through or became stuck in standing water could have damage to the "electrical and exhaust systems, wheel bearings and brakes, and even the air bags."

"Our best advice is if you have driven through flooded streets the best thing to do is have your vehicle inspected," she said. "It's for drivers' own safety."

Dan Petersen, owner of Master Mechanic in Toronto, says vehicles in floods are rarely salvageable, even for parts.

“Once the water gets over the floorboards, through to the seats, the interior has to be gutted,” he said. “But a lot of parts might not be reusable because it’s not pure water, it’s polluted.”

Petersen added that since control modules are now often located toward the bottom of the car, “the damage to the vehicle can be compared to dropping your iPhone in water.”

As for those severely waterlogged vehicles, Petersen says most insurance companies will likely write them off.

In the wake of the Alberta floods and the flooding experienced in the GTA, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is warning residents that some car owners may try to resell flood-damaged vehicles.

The IBC advises consumers to select a reputable dealer, inspect the vehicle for water stains and get a mechanic’s inspection.

In terms of prevention, the CAA Insurance’s website has safety tips for drivers to be prepared for the next time a storm strikes:

Do not attempt to drive through standing water, even if the water appears to be shallow
Plan your drive ahead of time to avoid low-lying areas
Stay off the roads if possible

Flooded basement

City officials announced on Tuesday that more than 1,000 calls were made to 311 on Monday evening reporting basement flooding.

To get rid of water yourself and begin basic flood recovery, the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) suggests the following tips:

Slowly use pumps or pails to remove standing water
Use a wet/dry shop vacuum to mop up the remaining water
Dress appropriately and keep children and animals away from the flooded area
Don't use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse-breaker panels until an electrician has ensured they are safe
Clean washable items such as clothes immediately to prevent mould
Documents, books or photos should be air-dried
Throw out any medicine, cosmetics or toiletries that have come in contact with flood water
Soaked furniture should be professionally cleaned

Make an insurance claim

Residents may want to make an insurance claim on damaged property. CAA Insurance has provided homeowners with helpful reminders about making efficient insurance claims on its website.