Adapting to the effects of climate change in Canada

CNW Group (Canada): Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) wants to help Canadians adapt to the effects of climate change. Let's face it, with severe weather events happening more frequently, we all need to take steps now to better protect ourselves and our communities. Research suggests that a majority of Canadian homeowners are interested in learning more about how to protect their homes from severe weather, but only three in ten are aware of what they can do.

Mark Yakabuski, President & CEO, IBC, said, "May 4 to May 10 is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. IBC is taking the opportunity to remind Canadian homeowners of what they can do to help reduce the risk that their homes and neighbourhoods will be damaged by the increased flooding we can expect to see in the coming years and decades."

… Measures can include placing rain collection barrels at the base of downspouts; converting your driveway to a permeable material; and landscaping in ways that maximize moisture retention, such as mounded flower gardens near the road. All these measures will slow down water flow into sewers and aid absorption of water into the ground. Homeowners are also encouraged to avoid landscaping projects that would have the opposite effect, such as replacing your lawn with concrete or interlock brick….

Rain barrels shot by Jan Tik, Wikimedia Commons via Flickr, under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License