Community Services

Urban Flooding, Homeowner Hazard Perceptions, and Climate Change

December 31, 2009 | Dan Sandink

Urban flooding has become one of the most substantial threats to property and health safety in many Canadian municipalities, and several recent events have exemplified the seriousness of this problem. In August 2005, a severe rainfall event in southern Ontario caused extensive overland flood and sewer backup damages, resulting in the most costly insured storm damage in Ontario’s history. In 2004, 2005, 2006 and this past summer, the City of Hamilton experienced heavy rainfall events that resulted in significant urban flooding damages. The cities of Ottawa, Sarnia, Thunder Bay, Peterborough, Saskatoon, Montréal, Edmonton, Calgary and Moncton, as well as many others, have also experienced damaging urban flooding events over the past few decades.