It’s no secret that Canada’s green is turning grey – with the development of houses and infrastructures and the cutting of trees and forests. Many Canadians are vulnerable to flooding but they don’t know it.
Canadians generally think of flooding as a homeowner’s phenomenon, associated with rivers, streams and creeks. In reality, the risk of floods exists at any place where there is heavy rainfall.
Toronto’s 2013 Floods:
Five years ago, Toronto and its surrounding areas were faced with a heavy rainstorm that caused major flooding. Toronto’s Pearson Airport was flooded with more than 10 centimetres of rain in two hours.
Toronto’s residential west end, and parts of southern Etobicoke were particularly affected by the floods. More than 21,000 basement flood claims were made.
Insured losses exceeded 1 billion, making this the costliest insured distaster in Ontario’s history. Just three weeks prior to this provincial disaster, Alberta experienced record flooding, which caused around $1.7 billion in insured damages and $6 billion in total damages.
Urban floods can occur in any community that gets a lot of rain in a short period of time, causing flooding to drainage systems. Sewers can be inundated with water, leading to street floods and basement flooding.
How Cutting Down Greenery Causes Flooding:
Trees prevent sediment runoff and forests can hold more water than farms and grassland. Rainwater stays on the leaves and it often directly evaporates into the air.
The leaves reduce the impact of raindrops. The gentler the rain, the less erosion. Tree roots absorb water from soil, making the soil dryer and able to absorb more rainwater. The tree roots reduce the movement of sediments that can shrink river channels downstream.
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The risk of floods can be reduced when we take better care of our green Canada. What ways would you recommend to save our greenery?
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