Worst floods in Canadian history

1948 flooding of the Fraser River (British Columbia)
Financial cost: Unknown

Rising waters in the Fraser River floodplain in British Columbia led to the evacuation of 16,000 people in May and June. The flood was smaller than the one of 1894, but had a greater personal and financial impact. By 1948, the lower Fraser Valley was a highly developed agricultural area, with commercial and industrial development, newly built highways, and the province's major airport established in Richmond, built on the Fraser's floodplain. More than 2000 homes were destroyed. Thousands of people were displaced and infrastructure, including bridges and roads, was significantly damaged.

Image: A schoolhouse in Agassiz, B.C.

1950 flooding of the Red River (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Financial cost: $600 million

The Canadian Army and Red Cross helped evacuate 100,000 Winnipeg residents -- a third of the city's population -- when the Red River flooded parts of southern Manitoba starting in late April. Eight dikes gave way, and four of 11 bridges were destroyed. The river stayed above flood stage for 51 days. A combination of heavy snows during the previous winter and heavy spring rains caused the destruction of 10,000 homes.

Image: Winnipeg's Lombard Avenue

1954 Toronto-area floods, caused by Hurricane Hazel
Financial cost: Over $135 million

Hurricane Hazel led to a number of floods in the Toronto area in October 1954; areas around the Humber River saw the worst damage. The waters rose rapidly, and with incredible force, smashed into communities that lined the river's floodplains. Houses were swept clean off their foundations and numerous lives lost. In total the hurricane claimed 81. Environment Canada reports 1,896 families were left homeless.

Image: Lawrence Avenue, looking west across the Humber River, in Etobicoke.

1986 flooding of the Winisk River (Northern Ontario)
Financial cost: Unknown

An entire community in Northern Ontario was washed away by massive ice chunks from the Winisk River on May 16. About 118 residents were forced to move 30 kilometres inland from Hudson Bay after only two buildings remained when flood levels came down.

Image: Ice chunks collecting on the Winisk.

1996 flooding of the Saguenay River (Quebec)
Financial cost: $700 million

Heavy rains caused the Saguenay River to overflow in late July, forcing the evacuation of 16,000 people. Flooding and mudslides destroyed 488 homes, damaged 1,230 damaged and caused nearly $700 million in damage. Problems started after two weeks of constant rain, which severely engorged soils, rivers and reservoirs. The region was poorly prepared, then, for the massive rains of July 19, 1996. In the span of a few hours, 11 in (280 mm) fell on the region, the equivalent to the amount of rain usually received in a month.

Image: A house resists a torrent of water in downtown Chicoutimi, July 1996.