Flood Proofing Program

If you own, manage or are renting a property within the Don Mills Channel area, your property and assets may be at risk due to flooding damage during intense thunderstorms.

You can take the following steps to prepare for a flood and reduce the likelihood of damage.

1. Make a Plan

Develop an emergency preparedness and response plan for your property and share it with your employees.  Review the City of Markham’s flood emergency preparedness recommendations and the TRCA’s flood preparedness tips to make sure you are protecting your business from damage.

For an emergency plan template, visit York Region’s Business Continuity Template and Flooding: Health, Safety and Environmental Issues Fact Sheet.

Here are some key items in the preparedness and response plan for flood emergencies:

2. Talk to Your Insurance Provider

Review your insurance policy to ensure you are adequately covered, and ensure your insurance coverage includes sewer back-up provisions. Visit the Insurance Bureau of Canada: Disaster – Water for flood protection and insurance tips.

The City of Markham has made significant infrastructure investments in flood control improvements, which will help protect public and private property and will make critical infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather. Markham is challenging the insurance industry to consider these changes as part of the insurance rate setting.  You are encouraged to share information about the City’s flood mitigation work with your insurance agents as part of their policy renewal discussions.

3. Do not Dump in or Encroach into the Channel

Reduce the risk of flood damage to your property by keeping the channel free of obstructions and alterations.  Dumping in the Channel is illegal, and may result in a maximum penalty of $50,000.00.

The City runs an inspection and maintenance program for the open portions of the channel and culvert inlets. Through this program, we remove and dispose of any significant accumulation of debris on a bi-annual basis and following major storm events.

Landowners and tenants can help maintain the channel and reduce the risk of flood damage to their properties through the following practices:

Avoid storing equipment, vehicles and other assets in the floodplain, especially during storms Do not dump garbage on the channel bank or in the channel. Do not encroach into the channel. Any encroachment will need to be removed, and the channel restored to its original condition.

4. Participate in City’s Education Program

The City will be contacting the owners of eligible properties to complete a FREE flood risk assessment.  Participation in this program will help the area landowners and tenants select specific measures that they can implement to reduce flood damages

Use the following sources to stay informed before and during a flood:

• Environment Canada issues Special Weather Statements when heavy rainfall has the potential to cause local flooding.
• You can also sign up for flood forecasting and warning messages at www.trca.ca/get-flood-messages.  These messages range from water safety statements, early notice of potential for flooding to flood warning when flooding is occurring or is about to occur.

Follow social media alerts and notices for extreme weather events that may result in flooding in the Don Mills Channel area:

If you are in danger or there is a threat to life and safety, call 911 immediately.

* To report sewer back-up, localized flooding on municipal roads, blocked catch basins or other municipal infrastructure, call the City of Markham:

 905-477-5530 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
 905-4777000 (after-hours emergencies)

* For hydro-related questions including safety tips for flooding, call Alectra’s Customer Service at:
 1-877-963-6900 (Press 2)

* To report river flooding, call TRCA floodline at:
 416-661-6514

If you see any potential property damage, call your insurance representative as soon as possible.