When heavy rain hits: Staying safe during basement flooding

Canada Day looked different for many Ottawa residents this year. Instead of celebrating outdoors, many found themselves dealing with flooded streets, water-filled basements and power outages after an intense storm brought record-breaking rainfall to the region.

Events like these remind us that severe weather can happen with little warning. While Hydro Ottawa crews are always ready to respond to weather-related outages, staying safe also depends on being prepared before and during a storm.

Safety comes first

If your basement begins to flood, your first instinct may be to check your belongings or your sump pump. Before entering the area, stop and assess the situation.

If standing water has reached electrical outlets, extension cords, baseboard heaters or your electrical panel, do not enter the basement. Water and electricity create a serious hazard, and electrical equipment may still be energized even if it appears to be submerged.

If your home’s electrical system has been affected by flooding, contact Hydro Ottawa at 613-738-0188 to request an emergency power disconnection. Never attempt to turn off your main breaker if you would need to walk through water or stand in a damp area to reach it.

Once power has been safely disconnected from outside the home, restoration professionals can begin their work safely.

Prepare before the next storm

A few simple steps can help reduce the impact of future severe weather.

• Test your sump pump regularly: Make sure the float switch operates properly and remove any debris from the sump pit.
• Consider backup power: A battery backup or other backup power solution can help keep your sump pump operating during a power outage.
• Build a 72-hour emergency kit: Include drinking water, non-perishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, a first aid kit, phone charging banks and any medications your household may need.

Preparing in advance can make a significant difference when storms arrive unexpectedly.

Building a more resilient grid

As Ottawa continues to experience more frequent extreme weather, Hydro Ottawa is investing in technologies that improve the reliability and resilience of the local electricity grid.

These investments include grid automation, enhanced vegetation management and self-healing grid technologies that can help reduce outage impacts and restore power more efficiently.

When severe weather does occur, our crews work around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as conditions allow. We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding while this important work is underway.

By the numbers: The Canada Day storm

• 118 mm: Rainfall recorded at the Ottawa Airport weather station during the Canada Day storm.
• 1,900+: Flooded basement calls received by the City’s 3-1-1 service.
• 24 hours: The non-stop schedule kept by utility crews as they navigated waist-high water and submerged electrical infrastructure to safely restore service