Move your belongings
Reduce the risk of water damage to your belongings and valuables by keeping them in a place that is high and dry.
On this page
Who should take action
- Homeowners
- Renters
- All homes with:
- basements, crawlspaces used for storage
- a history of flooding
If you rent a basement apartment, talk to your landlord and your insurance professional about protecting your belongings from the impacts of flooding.
Benefits
Even a few inches of floodwater can permanently damage cherished photos, clothing, books, musical instruments and paperwork. Protect your belongings that can't be replaced and reduce insurance claims.
About overland flood insurance
Keep important documents and sentimental items safe by storing them on upper levels of your home. Use watertight storage bins for items that must be kept below ground level.
What you'll need
Optional:
- Dolly
- Shelving
- Waterproof document bags
- Water tight storage bins
- Waterproof safes
What's involved
- Move valuable or irreplaceable items and important documents to a higher floor
- Keep an inventory of your items, and their value, to help with potential insurance claims
- Check your home or tenant insurance policy to see what's covered
- Avoid storing household hazardous materials in high flood risk areas, such as basements or crawl spaces, as they can contaminate flood water
- Examples include fuel, paint, or cleaning products
For those living in basement units, follow the advice below:
- Elevate items, including electronics, at least 30 cm (about 1 ft.) above the basement floor
- Install sturdy shelving for elevated storage
- Place important documents, such as insurance and government-issued records, in waterproof bags or watertight storage bins if they must be kept below ground level
- Ensure you have tenant insurance to protect your belongings, if you rent a basement apartment
- Consider using a storage facility for items you don't use often, if they cannot be readily elevated or moved
When to do it
- You can raise or move your belongings at any time
- This is a one-time action and no maintenance is required
Be flood ready
Flood readiness includes making strategic choices about where you keep your valuable and irreplaceable belongings.
Seek support from a local professional, friend, family or neighbour if you're unable to complete this task on your own.