City of Greater Sudbury Advises Residents to be Prepared for Spring Thaw

The City's operations crews are monitoring the spring thaw, storm sewers and roadside ditches en-route to the large watercourses found throughout the City. Operations crews have begun thawing frozen culverts, clearing storm grates and removing snow from ditches, as required, to minimize ponding issues. The City continues to address snow bank removal at intersections with site line concerns. Citizens are advised to exercise normal precautions in the vicinity of drainage ditches.
With the onset of rain and spring thaw, there are things you can do to reduce the potential of basement flooding:

• Check your sump pump to ensure it is operating and your sump pit to ensure it is not blocked by debris.
• Reposition your downspout, if necessary, to direct water away from the foundation and any neighbouring properties.
• Valuables stored on basement floors should be moved to a safe location if you are concerned about flooding.
• Know what to do if your basement floods. The City of Greater Sudbury offers a flood preparedness package on its web site at www.greatersudbury.ca. The most important thing is protection from electrical shock. Do not enter a flooded basement without rubber boots and do not touch anything metal. Contact your hydro utility and gas utility for disconnects, if necessary. If your basement is flooded with sewage, contact 3-1-1 as a first step.

A reminder that 9-1-1 should only be dialed to report a crime in progress or a life-threatening emergency situation.  Citizens are encouraged to phone 3-1-1 if they observe any concerns related to the spring melt or flooding.

Conservation Sudbury provides updated Flood Advisories, including a current flood status banner, on their website at www.conservationsudbury.ca when appropriate.  Residents who want to learn more about watershed conditions can contact Conservation Sudbury at 705-674-5249.