In the month of July, the Brookings, Yankton, and Sioux Falls areas received an above-average amount of rain. Massive amounts of rainfall also mean massive amounts of basement flooding, and we’re happy that we can be there in a jiffy thanks to our 24/7 emergency line!
Whether it’s rain or a broken pipe, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Record Rainfall
In a matter of hours on a Thursday during July, almost 9 inches of rain soaked Brookings County. That’s highly unusual for this time of year, normally the area only averages around 3 inches of rain! That massive amount resulted in abandoned cars, interrupted electricity, and of course, a flash flood.
One resident told the Argus Leader the flooding happened so quickly, the water shoved the back door to her basement open before rushing in!
A little bit further south, Yankton collected almost 20 inches of rain in only a month-and-a-half! Areas across Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota all received incredibly abnormal amounts of rain this summer.
That’s a recipe for dozens of flooded basements.
What do you before a flash flood?
While you’re thinking about flooding, go check on your sump pump. A fully-functional sump pump is your home’s best defense against flooding. Take a look at your downspouts too, making sure water is being directed away from your home and that there isn’t any blockage in the gutters.
If you don’t have time to check your sump pump before a flash flood warning, at least check to make sure it’s plugged in and there isn’t anything blocking the water line. The easiest way to make sure your sump pump is working is to lift the float with your finger to see if it turns on.
During a flash flood
If the water starts rising in your home, get your valuables off the floor and preferably upstairs, where the water can’t touch it. Focus first on irreplaceable or sentimental belongings.
The next step in basement flood cleanup is to focus on wooden furniture and whatever else needs to be moved to higher ground. We can be there to help you move things if you need us to, so don’t hesitate to give us a call on our 24/7 emergency line!
What to do after the rain
The most important thing to remember about water damage is mold prevention, and that’s where we come in. Depending on whether your basement is finished or not, you may need to pull back the carpet and rip out trim. We have experts on staff who know how to restore very extensive water damage, even to the point of rebuilding portions of your walls if they need to be.
Our team is very careful to respect your belongings during the entire water damage restoration process so we can help you minimize the loss of your belongings!
As soon as you feel like you need backup, call us in. We’re ready to be on the scene 24/7, and we can even help you navigate the finer points of insurance claims! Get in touch about water damage restoration and we’ll be there when you need us!
