Catastrophic flooding is no longer a surprise: Three practical steps to better protect Canadians
How many flooded streets, waterlogged basements and overwhelmed stormwater systems do Canadians need to see before we stop treating catastrophic flooding as a surprise?
How many times do experts need to warn us that extreme rainfall is becoming more frequent and more severe before we acknowledge that this is no longer an occasional problem?
These questions are best posed to the Canadians whose basements flooded this summer. Ask those who once again found themselves wading through sewer water searching for cherished possessions. For many, it was not for the first time. Their answer would likely be simple: enough is enough.
Catastrophic flooding events are no longer surprises. We've all seen the videos on the news and across our social media feeds.
The September 2 storm in the Greater Toronto Area was simply the latest example. There was large hail and damaging winds, and more than 100 millimetres of rain triggered flash flooding that overwhelmed roads and infrastructure. The Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway in Toronto were heavily affected, and more than 150,000 Ontario customers lost power.
The warnings are clear
The science tells us it likely won’t get better. In its recently released “Canada's Changing Climate Report 2026,” the federal government states: “Projected increases in extreme precipitation will lead to increased flash flooding across Canada, including in urban areas. There is high confidence in projected increases in the frequency and intensity of one-day and five-day total precipitation extremes and short-duration (timescales less than a day) rainfall extremes…”
Flooding is Canada’s most frequent and costly natural disaster, and the trend is accelerating. Over the past 20 years, flood- and water-related insured losses have increased more than 300% compared to the previous two decades, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc.
The problem is clear. So why do we continue to under-invest in solutions that could reduce the damage and better protect Canadians?
Insurers are part of the solution. Across the country, they are helping homeowners reduce flood risk by offering better terms and coverage for measures such as backwater valves and sump pumps. Insurers are also rebuilding homes more resiliently after a loss.
However, insurance alone can’t solve Canada’s flood problem. We must do more to protect homes so they don’t flood in the first place.
There are several practical measures that can make a meaningful difference.
What needs to be done
1. Invest in the infrastructure that protects communities.
The number is disturbingly large: $65 billion. That's the estimated water infrastructure deficit facing municipalities across Canada, based on data from StatsCan. Part of the challenge is that stormwater systems, wastewater systems and drainage infrastructure are largely invisible. New parks, arenas and community centres are easy to see and celebrate, so they’re more likely to attract investment dollars. But water systems are the first line of defence against flooding.
Closing the infrastructure gap doesn’t mean rebuilding everything overnight. Targeted improvements, one neighbourhood at a time, can make a meaningful difference. Municipal leaders often have to balance the long-term benefits of infrastructure upgrades against the short-term inconvenience of construction. But if temporary traffic disruptions today mean fewer flooded homes tomorrow, that’s a trade-off worth making.
2. Shift from recovery to prevention.
The cheapest flood is the one that never happens. Canada has spent decades building disaster recovery programs, but far less has been done to help homeowners prevent flood damage before it occurs. Simple measures such as backwater valves, sump pumps and grading improvements can significantly reduce flood losses. Retrofit programs, better land-use planning and building code updates can help too. Every dollar spent helping homeowners reduce risk can save many more dollars in future disaster assistance.
3. Give Canadians access to flood-risk information.
You can't protect yourself from a risk you don't know exists. Before buying a home, Canadians can learn almost everything about a neighbourhood except one of the most important things: its flood risk. The irony is that there is a solution: Canada's Flood Risk Finder. Yet most Canadians currently don’t have access this tool because provincial government participation remains limited.
Some might worry that making flood-risk information public could unfairly stigmatize communities. In reality, it helps homeowners make informed decisions and gives governments the information they need to target infrastructure investments where they are needed most. If a neighbourhood has flooded repeatedly because water has nowhere else to go, that information should help drive solutions, not stay hidden from public view.
Canada doesn’t lack evidence, warnings or solutions. What we lack is a sense of urgency equal to the challenge before us.
Floods will continue to happen and insurers will continue helping Canadians recover when they do, but recovery cannot be our only strategy.
At some point, we need to stop acting surprised by these disasters and start acting on what we already know.
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