Trace the Path of Water Through Your Home Before It Rains
A 7-point checklist to review your house before the rainy season: roof, gutters, downspouts, drainage, backflow valve, tank and elevated equipment.
Houses rarely fail because of the rain itself, but because of where water gathers and where it cannot get out. The cheapest way to find out is to walk through your home following the path of the water, from top to bottom, on a dry day and without rushing. Here is a seven-point checklist.
1. Roof and fastenings
Look for loose sheets or tiles, cracks, old leaks and rusty screws. Fix anything loose before the rain. Do not climb onto a wet roof: it is slippery, and if the job is big it is worth hiring someone.
2. Gutters free of leaves and trash
A clogged gutter overflows and drops water right against the wall. Clean it and check that it slopes toward the downspout.
3. Downspouts that are clear and unbroken
Run water through with a hose and watch where it comes out. If it leaks at the joints or clogs, better to know now.
4. Final discharge: where does the water go?
This is the most forgotten point. If the downspout ends right against the foundation, water flows back toward the house. Move it away with an extra section to a place where it can drain.
5. Backflow valve on the drain
When the sewer network fills up, dirty water can come back up through your home's drains. FEMA recommends having a plumber install a backflow valve to prevent it, which is also a health hazard.
6. Tank or cistern that is elevated, covered and well connected
A sealed cistern keeps flood water from mixing in, and a firm lid also keeps mosquitoes from laying eggs. The CDC asks that containers and cisterns used to store water be kept tightly covered.
7. Appliances, electrical panel and equipment raised
FEMA recommends raising and anchoring the most expensive services: electrical panel, sockets, wiring, appliances and heating equipment. The right height depends on your area: ask how high the water reached in past rains and place them above that, with some margin. An electrician should do this, not a well-meaning neighbor.
Documents and items that cannot get wet
Keep ID, titles, prescriptions and deeds in sealed plastic bags, inside a box you can grab quickly. Make a list of your belongings and take photos of what matters: it helps with claims and with knowing what to replace.
Your home is not an island
You can have everything perfect and still flood if the storm drain on your street is clogged. Do not throw plastics or rubble into ditches or drains, respect trash collection schedules and, if you can, organize a clean-up of channels and drains with your neighbors before the rain.
What to do if water is already coming in
Do not step into water if there are cables, outlets or plugged-in appliances. If you can cut the power from a dry place, do it; if not, call 911 or the electric company. Move to higher ground and follow official instructions.
And in your pantry
While you walk through the house, also look at where you keep food and water. What is on the floor gets wet first: move cans and bags to high shelves. In Despendo you can name each shelf and know what is on each one, even if you have to move things in a hurry.
Sources and further reading
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