Individual Property Owner/Resident Flood Preparation
1. Those possessions that are not needed in the immediate future and are mobile should be moved to another location, such as second vehicles, trailers, building materials.
2. Make arrangements to board pets in a safe location in the event that an evacuation becomes imminent.
3. Ensure that family vehicle is fueled.
4. Make a sign with house number and name to place in the window of your residence so it is visible to Emergency Workers.
5. If flooding becomes an imminent threat, secure garden furniture, barbecues gas and oil tanks, lawnmowers etc.
6. Mark your septic tank with a stake so that it can be located.
7. Ensure that septic tank cover is fastened securely and weighted. (To mitigate contamination in the event of flooding, consider having your tank pumped out now. Should flooding become imminent, ensure to fill tank with water to weight it enough to remain buried.
8. Check for information on how to prepare at http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/ which has a 72 hour “toolkit” booklet that families can follow for what to take as well and guidelines to make a family plan and is available in French or English. At http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/yprprdnssgd/index-eng.aspx the same publication is available in an e-Pub format and it is also available in Simple Chinese, Punjabi, Inuktitut and Traditional Chinese Characters.
9. At the MB EMO site there are several other booklets and fact sheets on Flood Preparation, Sandbag Dike Construction, Pets and Emergency Preparedness, and Emergency Information for Seniors, Farm Animals, and more at http://www.gov.mb.ca/emo/general/downloads.html
Billie Jean Oliver (CMMA)
CAO
RM of St. Laurent
204-646-2259