Basement Warning: Melting Snow, Rain May Saturate Ground

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A one-two punch of melting snow followed by heavy rain predicted for Wednesday has emergency officials warning residents to watch water damage, especially in basements.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department shared these prevention tips from Erie Insurance Company:

• Check your property for obstructions that might prevent melting snow from draining.
• Make sure downspouts and sump pumps drain away from the house.
• Test your sump pump and its discharge pipe to ensure they are in working order.
• Shovel snow away from downspouts, basement window wells and stairwells.
• Clear your street storm drains of debris and snow.
• Check outside pipes for leaks and damage.

»Weather note: See the hour-by-hour and extended local forecast by clicking the temperature at the top of any page.

And Porch.com, which connects homeowners with repair professionals, offers some steps to take this spring to prevent future basement leaks and damage.

DIY tips to prevent and tackle basement flooding:

• Move all electrical outlets or plugs to higher levels in the basement
• Do not store valuable items in a basement with potential flooding issues
• The ground next to your foundation should slope away from the home
• Point gutters and downspouts to discharge water at least 5 feet away from the home
• Plant plants and boarders at least 12 inches away from the foundation
• Seal all windows and vents
• Unclog gutters and downspouts
• Waterproof the walls inside your basement with a roll-on concrete waterproofing product
• Address poorly-draining soil around the home by installing a French drain.
• Call a foundation contractor to address ongoing and outstanding issues with your foundation

The National Weather Service says the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., areas can expect rain and maybe even thunderstorms on Wednesday, with nearly an inch of rain possible.

“Normally, this amount of rain combined with the remaining snowmelt would not be enough to cause flooding, however, with streams already elevated from the snowmelt of the previous days, the flood threat becomes more pronounced,” forecasters said Monday.

Snowfall in Prince George’s County ranged from 25 inches in Hyattsville to 15 inches near Burtonsville.

Here are snow totals reported statewide for the entire storm, according to the National Weather Service.