Canadian Flood Maps - Is Your Home in a Flood Zone? | Square One (2024)

Buying a house in a flood zone

Until recently, Canada was the only G8 country that didn’t offer flood insurance to homeowners. This meant that it was up to the federal and provincial governments to assist citizens when disaster struck. Luckily for homeowners, change is coming as the incidence of flooding increases.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada recently took part in a private sector effort to the create a new collection of flood maps that take into account river gauge and rainfall data to measure flood extent and depth, flood defence information, historical flood records, snowmelt and terrain data.

Flood insurance in Canada

The new maps, which were ready early in 2016, are now used by insurance companies to assess flood risk for both fluvial flooding – flooding when excessive rainfall over an extended period causes a river to exceed its capacity — and surface water flooding that is caused when heavy rainfall creates a flood event independent of an overflowing body of water body.

These new maps, which aren’t yet available to the public, indicate that 20 percent of Canadian households are in high-risk areas and 10 percent of those are considered very high risk.

Property flooding is Canada’s leading cause of natural disaster, despite the prominence given to the destruction done by forest fires. Therefore, be certain to determine whether flood damage is covered by your homeowner’s policy.

If you live in a flood zone, insurance can be a godsend. As you think about the necessity for flood insurance, consider these flood facts:

• Flash floods can send walls of water from 10 to 15 feet (about 3 to 5 metres) speeding toward your home.

• It takes only two feet (about two-thirds of a meter) of rushing water to carry away a vehicle, a frightening thought if you’re inside.

• A few inches of water in your home can cause damage that costs many thousands of dollars to repair. This comes out of your pocket if your insurance doesn’t cover it.

• Floods can be caused by a variety of events, including as hurricanes, winter storms, snowmelt or heavy rains that don’t drain well.

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Don’t be cavalier about the potential damage flooding can cause. Investigate whether it’s something you, as a homeowner, need to address before it’s too late to save your property.

Conducting a flood risk analysis on your home

Until the Flood Hazard Mapping Program is available to the public, the best way for a property owner to minimize their risk of flood damage is to conduct a flood risk analysis on your building. You must know the base flood elevation and your building’s finished floor elevations. If your finished floor elevation is above the base flood elevation, you are at low risk of flooding. If the finished floor elevation is below you are at very high risk of flooding.

While you may think your property is at low risk, it is interesting to note that flood risk is spread across all types of topography, in rural areas and cities both young and old, across different income levels and can affect all kinds of buildings and property types.

For instance, despite Vancouver’s rich real estate, relatively young building infrastructure and high livability score, it is the world’s tenth most likely city to suffer flooding.

So, while governments tackle infrastructure and insurance companies conduct risk assessments, a property owner’s best line of defence against flood damage will hopefully soon be that they are properly insured.

Commonly asked questions

What zone(s) have the highest risk of flooding?

Generally, the areas at highest risk of flooding are those at low-lying elevations, located close to water, and those prone to heavy rainfall or snow accumulation. To check specific flood risks, check with your home province or municipality for local flood risk maps.

How can I check if a house has been flooded?

Some telltale signs that a home has been flooded in the past include: cracks in the foundation, stains on basem*nt walls or flooring, buckled floors, and the presence of mould. When in doubt, consult a qualified home inspector.

Is my home covered if it suffers from flooding?

Many home insurance policies in Canada do not automatically include coverage for overland flooding, though sewer backup and other water damage may be covered. Always consult your home insurance provider for specifics about your coverage.

Want to learn more? Visit our Home and Personal Safety resource centre to find more information about protecting your family and your home. Or, get an online quote in under 5 minutes and find out how affordable personalized home insurance can be.