This year’s winter is finally drawing to a close. A thicker than usual snow pack has sparked
concern over possible flooding as it warms up through the spring. The national weather service has forecasted
temperatures to be below normal and models indicate a gradual thaw. This may seem less than ideal because the
snow will hang around longer but it’s great news for those worried about
flooding. A slow thaw will give the
rivers and streams time to ferry away the water at a lower level preventing
flooding. Although the forecast is for a
gradual melt, we could still see flooding.
The worst case scenario would be for several days of heavy rain in April
before the ground has fully thawed. If this
happens, flooding of level ground is certain to happen.
There are steps for homeowners to take in flood prone
areas.
Buy flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance
Plan if you live in a flood plain.- Elevate the furnace, water heater, air conditioner and
other utilities that are ground level.
- Install "check valves" in sewer traps to
prevent flood water back ups.
- Construct interior barriers to stop low level
floodwater from entering basements.
- Read Living in the Floodplain: What You Need to Know - Who You Need to Know . This publication is available from the
WDNR.
All homeowners should also consider
doing the following regardless of if they have flooded recently or not.
- Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to
avoid seepage.
- Remove inventory or important papers and possessions
from the basement.
- Back up important computer files and store in a secure
off site location.
These simple steps can prevent costly
damage to homeowners and make flood recovery easier and faster.
