Sump pumps are critical for anyone with a basement. If your electricity goes out, though, you probably will lose the sump pump, too. Check into back-up sump pumps, which run on battery power to keep the basement dry until electricity is restored and the main unit kicks in again. Be sure to choose one that pumps as much water as the main pump handles.The Basement Watchdog lets you know everything you need to know about it: the status of the battery, the pump — even whether it’s ready to go to work. For about $600, you can protect your finished basement against flooding. Since most insurance companies only cover flood damage up to a point, a back-up sump pump really is a kind of insurance, too. It pays to get a good one.
French drains work great for getting rainwater away from your house and making the sump pump’s job easier. Ideally the builder put in a French drain when the house was built, but you can retro-fit one, too.
Leak repair may become necessary even while the storm is still going on. If there’s a hole or crack in the foundation, water can pour into your basement. However, there’s some special cement — hydraulic cement — which expands as it cures. It acts like a plug. All you have to do is mix some up, form a little ball of some of it, and push it into the leak. It won’t fall out, and it won’t fall apart, as regular cement would.
Emergency kits are something that every home should have, but people don’t always take the time to put one together. So look at buying one that’s already assembled for you. A company called American Family Safety makes some that are less than $70; they include batteries, a radio, portable drinking water — just about everything you’ll need in an emergency.
You can put your own kit together, of course, or add to one you buy. Make sure you have some trash bags and zip-close freezer bags, which are perfect for protecting important papers, such as mortgage information and insurance papers, if you have to evacuate.
Also have an old-fashioned corded phone. Cordless phones won’t work if the power goes out, and if the power is out for a while, you won’t be able to charge up your cell phone.
It’s also important to have a camera in your emergency kit. Take pictures of all the rooms before a storm. Then take more pictures to show any damage after the storm. That will provide the insurance company with a good idea of what the damage is, and it can save you a lot of time later.
It’s a good idea to either pack your emergency supplies in a bucket or add a bucket to what you already have. Fill the bathtub with water before the storm. Then if you lose water service, at least you can flush the toilet by pouring a bucket of water into it.
Impact-resistant windows can be one of the smartest investments you can make in your home. They’ll hold up to flying debris and keep water and wind out of the house. They cost about twice as much as regular windows, but they can save you many times that in water and wind damage.
