The responsibility for flood contingency planning is shared by municipalities, conservation authorities (CAs) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). As with all emergencies, municipalities have the primary responsibility for the welfare of residents during flood events and may call upon the province for support if required. MNRF and the CAs are primarily responsible for operating a Flood Forecasting and Warning program, which involves issuing messages and providing advice to municipalities.
Remember, TRCA focuses on riverine flooding – even if you live outside of a floodplain, or if a flood message has not been issued by the Conservation Authority, you can still be at risk for urban flooding or basement flooding from severe weather events.
Flood messages are issued by email and text message to designated individuals within municipalities, local agencies, school boards and the media. These individuals are responsible for relaying the message to relevant individuals and departments within their organizations and activating their role as defined by the Flood Contingency Plan and their organizational emergency response plans.