Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/456199
a write-off due to the long-term effects and contamination damage," she explains. "[Flood- ing] causes random and erratic reactions to all electronic systems." Alas, there are no special sealants or magi- cal flood-proof doors to invest in. The only defence is to, quite literally, keep your car high and dry. "e No. 1 tip would be to tell people who are in flood regions to be very cautious coming into the springtime," says Smiley. "Be prepared to move your vehicles to higher ground." Of course, in order to have enough time to do that, you need to make a habit of closely monitoring weather reports. The Weather Network's free app offers emergency alerts and specific info about what's happening S pringtime. Images of flowers blooming, birds chirping and the bitter chill of win- ter at long last melting away. But as Manitobans well know, it's not all sunshine and songbirds; the return of spring brings with it plenty of hazards – for you and your vehicle. We're talking, of course, about flood season. According to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), spring flooding has accounted for 1,303 claims over the past five years, peaking in 2014 with 478. And recently, there's been nary a dry spot anywhere in the province. "In 2014, we saw nearly 100 [water-dam- age claims] coming out of Steinbach; we had 50 coming out of Virden," reports MPI spokes- person Brian Smiley. "Steinbach is a consider- able distance from Virden, so it's literally all over the map." Thirteen hundred claims may not seem like all that many, especially when compared with other types, such as animal collision and vandalism, both of which account for more than 10,000 claims each year. However, the figure takes on a different light when you con- sider that the vast majority of flood-damaged cars won't be repaired. ey'll be written off. Robbie Mydonick, co-owner of InterCity Autobody in Winnipeg (a CAA Approved Auto Repair Service facility), has seen plenty of cars and trucks die a watery death over the years. "Depending on the extent of the flood, an average insurance claim would cost $3,000, [but] most flood vehicles are considered to be ANALYZE THIS Surviving the Flood How to keep your car – not to mention your head – above water this spring by Matt Currie Flash flooding in the parking lot of Winnipeg's Grant Memorial Church, June 2013. boris minkevich/winnipeg free press S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 | G O I N G P L A C E S 45