Municipality of Sioux Lookout shares spring flood mitigation tips

Tim Brody - Editor

As warmer temperatures and the arrival of spring rains melt away snow and ice in Sioux Lookout, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout is sharing tips to help residents prevent flooding from affecting their homes. 
The Municipality advised in an April 15 media release this requires, “a combination of exterior snow management, maintenance of your home’s drainage systems, and interior preparation. Since frozen ground cannot absorb rapidly melting snow, water can pool against foundations and find its way through cracks or back up through sewers into your home.” 
The Municipality has provided the following tips and actions they say residents can take to minimize the risk of water from melting snow entering their home this spring. 

Immediate Exterior Snow Management

•  Clear a Foundation Buffer: Shovel snow at least 3 to 5 feet away from your home’s foundation to prevent water from pooling against the walls as it thaws. Pay extra attention to window wells and basement doors. 
  
• Create Drainage Paths: Dig paths through snowbanks to allow melting water to flow toward the street, back lane, or lower-lying areas of your property. 
  
• Roof Snow Removal: Use a roof rake to remove excessive snow from your roof to prevent ice dams and reduce the amount of water dripping directly next to your foundation. 
  

Critical Drainage Maintenance

• Extend Downspouts: Ensure downspouts direct water at least 6 to 10 feet away from your foundation. If necessary, use temporary flexible extensions or splash blocks to guide water to a safe drainage area. 
  
• Inspect Gutters: Clear ice blockages, leaves, and debris from eavestroughs so they don’t overflow during a rapid melt or heavy spring rain. 
  
• Check Yard Grading: Observe where water pools. Ensure the ground slopes away from your foundation. If it doesn’t, consider adding soil or clay to re-grade these areas in the future. 
  

System & Interior Protection 

• Test Your Sump Pump: Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit to ensure the float switch triggers the pump. Consider installing a battery backup power source so the pump continues working during spring storm power outages. 
  
• Maintain Backwater Valves: If your home has a backwater valve (designed to prevent sewer backups), open it and ensure the flapper moves freely and is clear of debris. 
  
• Seal Foundation Cracks: Inspect basement walls for new hairline cracks and seal them with hydraulic cement or appropriate sealant to prevent seepage. 
  
• Protect Belongings: Move valuable items, electronics, and important documents out of the basement or store them in watertight plastic bins on high shelves.
• Prop up appliances (washers, dryers) on wood blocks to avoid damage from minor seepage. 
  

Additionally, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout informed it will be working to mitigate localized flooding on roadways and sidewalks by: 

• Opening and steaming catch basins. 
  
• Removing excess snow from flood prone areas as resources allow. 
  
• Engaging staff and external resources to prepare for and mitigate potential damages. 
  
• Monitoring area watersheds maximize lead time once waterways are free from ice. 
  
• Making sandbags available to residents should the need arise to protect property from rising water levels. 
  

Anyone experiencing localized flooding on private property is asked to contact the Public Works department at (807) 737-1234 to ask for sandbags. The Municipality informed that it will be producing sandbags in larger quantities should the need arise as runoff from the spring melt enters local waterways.