The intense rainstorm that quickly flooded parts of Toronto on Monday took residents and motorists by surprise. But even with little or no warning, there are ways you can prepare for another possible flood, or a different kind of disaster.
Tanya Gulliver, a disaster recovery expert who works with the American Red Cross, offered some helpful tips in an interview with CTV News Channel:
Prepare a disaster kit
Gulliver said every household should have a survival kit containing water, food and other essentials, along with important ID and insurance documents. The kit should include:
- A gallon of water per person per day
- Non-perishable food
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered radio
- First aid kit
- Medications
- Phone chargers
- Cash
- Blankets
- ID and important documents, placed in a plastic container to avoid water damage
Have an evacuation plan
Familiarize yourself with escape routes in your building or house and find out if your neighbourhood has an evacuation plan in place, Gulliver said.
If members of your family are in different places when disaster strikes, make sure everyone has a way to contact one another. It’s helpful to designate an emergency contact outside the area – a person who may not be impacted by flooding, fire or whatever is going on and ready to help.
Stay informed
Watch and read the news, city bulletins and social media posts. Take advantage of sites like Facebook and Twitter to track loved ones and let them know where you are, Gulliver said.
