Public engagement on the development of a flood risk awareness portal
Current status: Closed
This consultation ran from January 2024 until March 31, 2026.
Public Safety Canada (PS) conducted public engagement activities to inform the creation of a flood risk awareness portal to provide people in Canada with centralized access to information on flood risks as well as resources and suggestions on how to protect their homes and communities. This work to inform the planning and development of Canada’s Flood Risk Finder has now been completed.
Targeted engagement was held with various groups during this period. Engagement explored experiences of flooding and flood protection behaviours, how to effectively communicate flood risk data, and how to encourage the adoption of flood protection measures at the property level with all participants. Engagement took place through interviews, focus groups and a national survey. Statistics Canada supported PS by conducting several engagement activities including prototype testing with participants.
Who was the focus of this consultation
People residing in Canada including, the general public, Indigenous Peoples, academia, relevant not-for-profit organizations and relevant industry, such as those representing the real estate and insurance industries.
Key questions discussed
- Are you aware of your flood risk where you currently live?
- Have you taken steps to prepare for and reduce the impacts of flooding to your home? Why or why not?
- Where do/would you prefer to look for information related to flood risk and flood risk reduction?
- How would you like to receive information related to your flood risk and tips on reducing it on an online resource? What information would be most useful?
- How can we ensure that flooding information is meaningful and useful for Indigenous Peoples?
- Standard user experience questions during useability testing sessions on the prototype of Canada’s Flood Risk Finder.
Key highlights from the discussions
- Awareness of flood risk is generally not high. Most people are not familiar with and/or have not consulted existing information sources to learn about their flood risk.
- Information-seeking behaviour is centered on immediate, real-time flood event or post-event recovery information.
- Social media and personal networks are critical communication avenues in all stages of flood events.
- Preparedness for emergencies is fairly widespread at the household level, but preparedness for flooding specifically is still relatively low.
- There is interest and need for easy-to-understand flood risk information.
- While some people want highly detailed information on their flood risk, the majority prefer simple and direct information.
- Simple and direct information is positively viewed as being easy to share with one’s personal network, including vulnerable members of the community.
- Online maps are a desired way to receive flood risk information.
- There is a preference for flood risk mitigation information in the form of checklists and ‘step-by-step’ guides.
- People are interested in receiving flood risk mitigation measures that consider different housing and ownership types (e.g., those living in basements, renter-specific guidance).
- Importance of working with Indigenous institutes, organizations, scholars, and Elders and Knowledge Keepers to share Indigenous knowledge alongside more technical information.
How engagement shaped the tool
Participants’ input informed elements of the design, content and functionality of Canada’s Flood Risk Finder. Testing of the prototype was generally positive and participants’ recommendations for improvement were made, where possible. Engagement shaped key areas of the final product, including:
- Design and description of the ratings
- Presentation of the maps
- Layout, design and content of the web pages
- Type and placement of related links out from the resource
- Guidance on home flood mitigation measures
- Technical support for development of the Community Risk Index
Related links
- Invitation to participate in a flood awareness consultative engagement (statcan.gc.ca) (closed)
- Prepare for floods (getprepared.gc.ca)
- Flood risk
- Canada's Flood Risk Finder
Contact us
For more information, please contact Public Safety at: psinfoflood-spinfoinondation@ps-sp.gc.ca.