Canada Must Invest in Flood Preparedness Amidst Rising Flood Risks, Says Climate Expert

Ryan Ness, who serves as the research director for adaptation at the Canadian Climate Institute, has been closely monitoring the catastrophic flash flooding in Texas that has led to over 100 fatalities. He expresses profound concern that Canada is not adequately preparing for similar disasters, urging the country to prioritize investments in flood mapping, infrastructure, and early warning mechanisms to safeguard its citizens.

He underscores the importance of understanding risk areas, noting that many regions in Canada lack comprehensive flood maps, ultimately complicating efforts to issue timely warnings or implement effective protections. According to Ness, it is essential to establish flood warning systems that can help individuals in affected areas prepare or evacuate as necessary, alongside long-term improvements to infrastructure designed to mitigate risks.

Ness describes various methods to enhance flood protection, such as installing backflow valves in homes to prevent sewer backups, constructing flood walls along rivers, and ensuring that city planning forbids new developments in high-risk flood zones. The severe flooding in Texas has intensified discussions regarding the predictability and prevention of flash floods, an issue compounded by climate change, which is increasing the frequency and severity of such events.

In Canada, flash floods have already caused significant issues, such as the mudslide in Coquitlam, B.C., that resulted in a teacher's death, and the dramatic rainfall in Toronto last July, which led to substantial financial losses. Ness warns that certain areas, particularly those recovering from wildfires in British Columbia, are increasingly vulnerable to rapid flash flooding due to compromised soil stability.

He highlights that other Canadian regions, like Alberta's Rocky Mountains, are also at risk. There, rain can quickly cascade downhill, and towns like Canmore are proactively implementing strategies to manage these threats following devastating floods in 2013. In urban centers like Montreal and Toronto, Ness points out that urban development has exacerbated the flood risk, as paved surfaces prevent adequate water absorption, leading to fast-rising waters in both natural and sewer systems.

Despite Toronto’s ambitious multibillion-dollar project aimed at enhancing stormwater management, Ness notes that the timeframe for such initiatives can be lengthy and challenging to fund. He argues for the importance of starting these necessary investments promptly, emphasizing that as climate change progresses, the risks will only intensify. Ness concludes that Canada must adapt to the increasing prevalence of flash floods urgently, harnessing the expertise of engineers and planners while ensuring that adequate investment supports necessary projects to confront this emerging reality.