Before, during, and after a flood: a Canadian preparedness guide
Flooding is one of Canada’s most common and costly natural disasters, and standard home and business insurance doesn’t automatically cover it. Protecting a property means understanding overland water and sewer backup coverage, the two endorsements that actually pay out, and knowing what to do before, during, and after a flood. Here’s what homeowners, renters, and business owners across Canada need to know.
What causes flooding in Canada, and who’s at risk?
Flooding in Canada is typically caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, overflowing rivers, ice jams, or coastal storms. It generally falls into three categories: riverine flooding, when rivers or streams overflow their banks; urban flooding, when municipal drainage systems can’t handle heavy rainfall; and coastal flooding, driven by storms and rising water along shorelines. Flooding can affect homeowners, renters, and businesses in any region of Canada, including urban and rural communities that have never flooded before, and it can happen with little warning.
What’s the difference between overland water and sewer backup coverage?
Flood protection in Canada usually comes down to two separate endorsements, not one policy. Overland water coverage helps protect against water entering a home or business from heavy rain, snowmelt, or a nearby river or lake. Sewer backup coverage helps protect against water or sewage backing up through drains or plumbing. They’re priced and triggered differently, and availability can vary by location, so it’s worth confirming with a Westland advisor whether one, both, or neither applies to a given property’s risk.
What should you do before, during, and after a flood?
Before a flood
- Learn about flood risks in your area by reviewing local flood maps and signing up for weather and emergency alerts. Knowing your risk ahead of time can help you prepare and respond more quickly.
- Help protect your property by keeping eavestroughs, downspouts, and drains clear, testing sump pumps, installing backwater valves where appropriate, and applying waterproof sealants to foundations, lower-level windows, and doors. Consider moving valuables and important belongings to higher levels.
- Review your insurance coverage and understand what types of flood-related damage may or may not be covered. Speak with a Westland advisor about overland water coverage, sewer backup coverage, and how factors like coinsurance and insurance-to-value can affect a claim payout. Businesses should also confirm whether they have business interruption coverage, including any waiting period before it applies.
- Create an inventory of belongings and important assets. Record a video walkthrough of the home or business, keep receipts for major purchases, and store copies of insurance documents and important records in waterproof containers and secure cloud storage.
- Develop an emergency plan, identify evacuation routes, and build an emergency kit with essentials such as water, food, medications, flashlights, chargers, and important documents.
- Businesses should develop a business continuity plan and identify critical operations, essential suppliers, and alternate ways to serve customers if their location becomes inaccessible. Backing up important business records and storing copies securely in the cloud can help reduce downtime and support a faster recovery.
During a flood
- Follow evacuation orders immediately. Safety comes first.
- Turn off electricity, gas, and water at the main switches if it’s safe to do so, then unplug all appliances.
- Lock doors and windows, and reinforce with sandbags if time allows.
- Photograph or video the property before leaving. An adjuster will need this for insurance purposes, along with photos taken after returning.
- Never walk or drive through moving floodwater. Even shallow water can be dangerous.
- Stay away from downed power lines and report them to the utility company.
- Businesses should communicate clearly and regularly with employees and activate their evacuation plan.
After a flood
- Return only after local authorities confirm it’s safe. Have a professional inspect for structural damage, electrical hazards, and water contamination before re-entering.
- Photograph and video all damage before beginning any cleanup. Keep damaged items until an adjuster has reviewed them, unless they pose a safety risk.
- Keep all receipts for emergency repairs, temporary accommodations, or cleanup services.
- Contact a Westland Insurance advisor as soon as it’s safe to report a loss and begin the claims process. Having a policy number and before-and-after photos or video ready can help an adjuster move an overland water or sewer backup claim along faster.
How should businesses prepare for and respond to a flood?
Supporting employees during a flood
Clear, frequent communication helps employees make better decisions under stress. Confirming that every team member has evacuated safely, being transparent about what is and isn’t known about the business situation, and making sure everyone knows how to access support, including an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and local evacuation centres, are all part of that.
Communicating with clients and managing business disruption
Even a business that avoids significant damage can see normal operations disrupted for days or weeks. Documenting operational changes, including reduced hours, temporary closures, remote work arrangements, delayed deliveries, or client cancellations, matters here. Keeping detailed records, such as reduced-hours logs, lost-revenue figures, and extra-expense receipts, can help support a business interruption claim.
- Update the website, Google Business Profile, and social media channels with a brief status update as soon as it’s safe to do so.
- Contact key clients, customers, and suppliers directly if services, appointments, or deliveries may be affected.
- Avoid over-promising reopening or recovery timelines. Regular updates hold up better than a committed date that may change.
- Monitor local emergency alerts, weather warnings, and municipal updates for road closures, evacuation orders, and re-entry guidance.
- Offer flexible work arrangements and check in on employees. Flooding has personal impacts too.
Flood risk is increasing across Canada as extreme weather becomes more frequent, and even properties with no flood history can be exposed. Anyone who’s been affected by flooding or has questions about their coverage can reach out to a Westland advisor directly.
Flooding in Canada: frequently asked questions
Does home insurance cover flood damage in Canada?
Generally, no, not automatically. Standard home insurance in Canada typically covers sudden, accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe or a failed appliance, but it doesn’t include flooding from outside the home by default. Overland flooding or sewer backup generally requires adding those coverages as endorsements. Whether they’re available, and at what cost, can depend on location, elevation, and proximity to water. A Westland advisor can review a policy and flag any gaps before flood season.
What types of flood damage does flood insurance cover?
Once the relevant endorsement is in place and its conditions are met, flood insurance can help cover:
- Heavy rain or surface water entering a home (overland water)
- Overflowing rivers, lakes, or streams
- Rapid snowmelt or spring runoff
- Sewer or drain backups, if sewer backup coverage is added
- Related repair costs, damaged belongings, and in some cases, additional living expenses while a home is being restored
Coverage is always subject to a policy’s specific limits, deductibles, and exclusions.
What isn’t covered by flood insurance in Canada?
Flood insurance has real limits, even with both endorsements in place. It typically doesn’t cover:
- Gradual leaks or damage from deferred maintenance
- Groundwater seepage entering through the foundation
- Losses above a policy’s limit or subject to a sub-limit
- Some high-risk properties, where coverage may be restricted or unavailable
Exclusions vary by insurer, so it’s worth reviewing policy wording and limits with an advisor rather than assuming coverage applies.
Does Canadian commercial insurance cover flood damage?
It depends, and it isn’t automatic. Commercial insurance policies don’t include flood coverage by default, and what’s available varies by business type, location, and insurer. Depending on the policy, coverage may be available for overland flooding, sewer backup, property damage, and business interruption, which can help cover lost income and extra expenses while a business is closed. Coverage and pricing can be more limited for businesses in flood-prone areas or those with basement-level operations.
Should I get flood insurance in Canada?
In most cases, yes, it’s worth considering, even for a property that’s never flooded. Flooding can happen in any region of Canada, and many homeowners and business owners are surprised to learn their standard policy doesn’t cover it. Overland water and sewer backup coverage are worth prioritizing for anyone near a river, lake, or coastline, in a low-lying area, or who’s had heavy rainfall or sewer backup issues nearby before. A Westland advisor can help weigh the cost of coverage against a property’s specific exposure.
How much does flood insurance cost?
There’s no set price. Flood insurance premiums depend on several rating factors, including:
- Property location and elevation, including proximity to a river, lake, or coastline
- Whether overland water coverage, sewer backup coverage, or both are being added
- Flood history at the property and the surrounding municipality’s drainage infrastructure
- Chosen coverage limit and deductible
- Property type and any existing mitigation, such as a sump pump or backwater valve
A Westland advisor can provide a specific quote based on a property’s details and risk profile.
