Floods are some of the most impactful hazards in Canada, and the Halifax region is no exception. As we are vulnerable to many types of flooding, this has widespread impacts in our communities and lives. These impacts are felt before, during, and long after events.
People
Floods put people in danger, damage structures, cause power outages and disrupt movement. In extreme cases, this can include drowning and injury from fast-moving and high-water levels or washouts.
Emergency services
While emergency services make every effort to protect residents, flood waters can be too dangerous for emergency vehicles to travel in. This can delay emergency calls and rescues.
Environment
Floods damage our environment. Fast moving and high-water levels damage marine and animal habitats and can hurt or kill species. Floods also cause erosion, where more sediment is moved and can clog waterways and damage environments.
Toxic materials
Floods can also wash toxic materials into streams and waterways, impacting ecosystems and water supplies. This can also lead to disease outbreaks. Pollutants like oil, plastic, pesticides and industrial waste can all damage our environment.
Displacement
Not all residents can move home after a flood. This displacement puts additional demand for housing in short supply.
Health
Floods impact our health and well-being long after the waters recede. Research has shown that three years after their home was flooded, almost half of residents surveyed said they worried every time it rains. This mental weight takes its toll.
Economic
Floods have enormous economic costs. This includes direct damages, like the destruction of a building, and indirect damages, like workers’ lost time and mental health. Floods can cause billions of damages and are frequently the most expensive disasters.
Other flood economic impacts
- Researchers from the University of Waterloo estimated that households that experienced a basement flood needed an average of seven days off work, 10x the average for non-flooded households (link)
- In 2018, the Insurance Bureau of Canada estimated that the average cost to repair and restore a flooded basement in Canada was $43,000 (source: Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation)
- Research from the Canadian Climate Institute estimate that flood damage to homes and buildings could increase fivefold in the next few decades and by a factor of ten by the end of the century, with costs as high as $13.6 billion annually.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that the July 2023 flood caused over $170 million in insured damages. Insured damages represent just a fraction of estimated damages from an event, so the actual costs for Nova Scotians are much higher.
July 2023 by the numbers
$170 million
Insurable losses from July 2023 flood event.
1,325
Number of service requests the municipality and Halifax Water received related to July 2023 flood event.
250 mm
Estimated rainfall, over three months worth, fell in less than 24 hours.
Explore further: What causes floods
Do you know what causes flooding in the municipality?