CAA SCO flood safety tips

TORONTO, May 29, 2013 /CNW/ - Heavy rain left many Toronto roads flooded and a portion of the Don Valley Parkway closed for several hours this morning.

CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) recommends these driving safety tips to prepare you for the worst:

• Do not attempt to drive through standing water. Attempting to drive through flooded streets may cause your engine to stall, your brakes to fail and potentially cause severe damage if you try to restart the engine.
• Even if the water appears shallow enough to cross, don't try it.
• If you come to a flooded street, turn around and take an alternate route.
• If you become stranded and your car stalls, get to higher ground and call 9-1-1 or CAA for help. CAA offers 24-hour roadside service, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Drivers can request roadside assistance by phone or online.

Flood waters can potentially damage your vehicle's electrical and exhaust systems, wheel bearings and brakes, as well as, your airbags.

If you have driven through standing water, have a professional inspect your vehicle. CAA can help you find a reliable repair facility.

Meanwhile, heavy rains could bring increased flooding and water damage to your home — if you're not properly prepared. CAA Insurance wants you to know that water damage caused by sudden, heavy rains can be avoided through the following tips:

• Install flood shields on all basement windows above ground level.
• Extend downspouts so that rainwater flows away from your home.
• Call your local city works department to see if your home is located in a flood plain.
• In older homes, ensure you have a properly installed backflow valve to prevent sewage back up in your home.

Learn more about how CAA Insurance can help protect your home at www.caasco.com/insurance.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering roadside services, automotive care, travel and insurance. There are more than 1.9 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and over 5.6 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance.

Follow @CAASCO_News on Twitter for regular updates on wait times, other news and information.

SOURCE: CAA South Central Ontario

Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Jeff LeMoine, Communications Specialist, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone].