Experts Urge Structural Overhaul After Cape Breton Floods
Following a Labour Day weekend storm that dumped over 200 millimetres of rain on Cape Breton, specialists are calling for updated building codes and improved drainage infrastructure to prevent future flooding.
Repairs to roads and properties in Cape Breton are continuing after a destructive rainstorm during the Labour Day weekend. Parts of the region were inundated by more than 200 millimetres of rain, causing road washouts and exposing critical vulnerabilities in both municipal infrastructure and private homes.
Amar Sabih, a researcher at McGill University's mechanical engineering department, stated that the intensity of the storm overwhelmed existing drainage systems. To address these failures, Sabih suggests that municipalities map out areas prone to water accumulation and install dedicated piping systems to divert run-off to uninhabited areas.
Corrine Cash, an associate professor at Mount Allison University, noted that investment in flood-proofing has lagged despite the increasing frequency and severity of storms. She emphasized that infrastructure unable to withstand such events needs to be replaced.
Experts also highlighted risks to residential properties, particularly regarding sewage backups caused by a lack of backflow valves. Sabih recommends that governments update building codes to mandate the installation of backflow valves in homes. Additionally, he advises homeowners not to finish or renovate basements unless comprehensive waterproofing measures are installed, including flood-sealing doors, window-well drains, and backflow valves.