Flood Response

Flooding Prevention for Homeowners

During peak storm periods, conditions can change quickly. In the event of heavy rain, blockages can lead to a serious flooding problem on private as well as public property. To minimize potential problems, here are a few things you can do at home:

Clear gutters and storm drains

Ensure the Township gutters and storm drains (inlet drains) around your property are clear of leaves, garbage, and other debris. To help prevent flooding in your neighbourhood, remove debris from nearby gutters, as it can take crews several hours to clear blockages during a storm. 

Clean your foundation drains

Perimeter drains, installed slightly below the house foundation, collect water from your house and property and direct it out to the Township storm sewer. The drains need to be periodically flushed or cleaned of yard waste and debris. If they are very old, they may need to be replaced. If they are not maintained, the amount of water they can handle is reduced, which can result in household flooding.

Clear ditches and culverts

If you have an open ditch along your property, check that the ditch and culverts are clear, including inside the culvert. Items commonly found in culverts include milk jugs, soccer balls, and other household items from blocked driveway culverts.

Compost yard waste or place it in your Green Cart for pickup

Don’t rake leaves onto the street or into open ditches. If you have a large amount of leaf litter or green waste, you can put out additional 80 L cans marked with a GreenCan decal or use Kraft paper bags for pickup. Learn more at: tol.ca/greencart.

Roof drains and splash pads

If your down pipes are connected to a hole near the house foundation, your down pipes are likely connected to your perimeter drains. These down pipes take rainfall from your roof gutters to the perimeter drains around your house foundation. This can cause excessive flow to your foundation drains and result in flooding of your house. To prevent this, direct your home’s down pipes onto splash pads. This allows rainfall from your roof to soak into your lawn and garden.

After Heavy Snowfall

After periods of heavy snowfall, these are some additional steps residents should take to protect their properties from flooding:

• If you are aware of a catch basin located on your street adjacent to your property, remove any snow from its surface. Snow-covered storm drains prevent the melting snow from properly draining into the Township’s storm sewer system. This may result in water ponding and potentially impacting properties within proximity to the storm drains.
• Clear any drains you may have on your own property to help drain water away from your house.
• Take extra precautions when driving. Puddles on streets may be deeper than what they appear and may cause loss of vehicle control.

Tips to Keep in Mind

• If you see pooling of water or flooding on the street, call the Engineering Division at 604-532-7300 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm. For after-hours flooding emergencies, call 604-543-6722.
• Emergencies can strike anytime. Prepare yourself and your family by taking just a few simple steps: Know the risks, make a plan, and prepare an emergency kit.
• Sand is available at the Township of Langley Operations Centre at 4700 - 224 Street, 24 hours a day. Sandbags are available during regular business hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Please bring a shovel.
• If a road is closed due to flooding, do not attempt to drive through the closure, even if you feel your vehicle is capable of doing so. Follow all signage and detour directions.
• If you are already dealing with a major flood on your property, learn how to apply for provincial disaster financial assistance.
• Please remain vigilant near fast moving water as banks and areas in close proximity to rivers and streams may be unsafe.

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