Floods & Landslides

The following links provide information that may help you address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after flooding or landslide events. 

Information for water suppliers impacted by emergency events: Procedures for returning to normal operations after an emergency event, including additional resources for homeowners and operators of facilities (Appendix A).
 

The following links provide information that may help you address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after flooding or landslide events. It’s important that you follow your emergency response plan.

• Power outages at food facilities: Food safety considerations for operators after a power outage (e.g., following a flooding/landslide event and power shut-down/evacuation).
• Flood information for food premises: Information for food premises to help prepare for the potential impacts when a flood is imminent, and when re-entering premises and cleaning up to resume normal operations.
• Drinking water and use notifications: General information on drinking water notifications and food preparation and service. Floods and landslides will often result in public water advisories.
• Assessing Sewage Disposal Systems for Damage after an Emergency Event : Information on how to contact an Authorized Person to assess the status of and repair your system if needed.
• Environmental Public Health – Environmental Health & Licensing – Contacts: Information on how to contact an Environmental Health Officer or Licensing Officer.

The following links provide information that may help long-term care and childcare facility operators address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after flooding or landslide events. It’s important that you follow your emergency response plan.

• Flood information for food premises: Information for food premises to help prepare for the potential impacts when a flood is imminent, and when re-entering premises and cleaning up to resume normal operations.
• Power outages at food facilities: Food safety considerations for operators after a power outage (e.g., following a flood/landslide event and power shut-down/evacuation).
• Drinking water and use notifications: General information on drinking water notifications and food preparation and service. Floods and landslides will often result in public water advisories.
• Assessing Sewage Disposal Systems for Damage after an Emergency Event : Information on how to contact an Authorized Person to assess the status of and repair your system if needed.
• Environmental Public Health – Environmental Health & Licensing – Contacts: Information on how to contact an Environmental Health Officer or Licensing Officer.
• Caring for Seniors in Long-Term Care in an Emergency (HealthLink BC): Preparing for and responding to hazards requires consideration of the needs of seniors, especially those in long-term care facilities.

The following links provide information on flooding and landslide-related issues. For information related to your specific health situation, contact your local physician.

Local governments operating a food facility should refer to the food establishments section above.  

• Flooding and Your Health: HealthLink BC Information to learn about flooding, preparing for an emergency, food and water safety, evacuation information, and more.
• Cleaning up after a flood: HealthLink BC Information document outlining key health hazards associated with a flood along with information on when it is safe to return home and how to prepare to return home after a flood.
• Current public water notifications: Searchable database identifying public water systems that are on a boil water notice, water quality advisory or other water notification
• Disinfecting drinking water: HealthLink BC file 49b outlines how and when to disinfect drinking water supplies
• Water well disinfection: Provincial guide on Water Well Disinfection using the simple chlorination method
• Well water testing: HealthLink BC file 05b describes when a well should be tested and how to have it tested
• Labs available for Testing Drinking Water: Water samples should be sent to a qualified laboratory for testing. (Open the current “PHO Approved Laboratory List” for a list of qualified labs).
• Food safety after a flood: Precautions and actions that should be taken after a flood to ensure that food is safe to eat, including information on foods that should be destroyed and what may be salvaged
• Sewage systems and flooding: Outlines safety, sanitation and clean up of sewage systems during and after flooding
• Frequently Asked Questions – Sewage Contaminated Flood Waters
• Assessing Sewage Disposal Systems for Damage after an Emergency Event : Information on how to contact an Authorized Person to assess the status of and repair your system if needed.
• Environmental Public Health – Environmental Health & Licensing – Contacts: Information on how to contact an Environmental Health Officer or Licensing Officer.
• Community Evacuation Information for Seniors (HealthLink BC): Preparing for and responding to hazards requires special consideration of seniors’ needs. Seniors who live alone or are sick or disabled will need special support and an emergency plan.

The following links provide additional information:

• Red Cross emergency & disaster services: Resource to help locate specific emergency and disaster services available in affected cities.
• Flood clean up: Emergency Management BC handout outlining steps and issues to consider prior to re-entering a home after a flood.
• How to deal with mould: One-page Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation information sheet outlining mould prevention and cleanup methods.
• Indoor air quality - mould and other biological contaminants: HealthLink BC downloadable health file explaining mould and health problems associated with moulds, which may be present after a flooding event.
• Disaster financial assistance: Provides information and links to available disaster financial assistance for uninsurable events such as overland flooding or landslides.
• Regional districts & municipalities: Searchable directory to locate contact information for individual regional districts and municipalities.
• BCCDC Flood Zones: Key environmental health hazards that the public may encounter when re-entering the flood zone.