Matanuska-Susitna Borough

When pumping flooded basements, consider this

Mat-Su | VickieLee Fenster | Monday, September 24, 2012

Here are some things to consider when your basement is flooded:

First of all NEVER GO INTO A FLOODED BASEMENT UNLESS THE ELECTRICITY IS OFF…

• FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES, TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR BASEMENT BEFORE BEGINNING OF ANY WORK

• WHEN THE WATER IS NO LONGER COVERING THE GROUND AROUND THE PERIMETER OF YOUR HOUSE YOU CAN BEGIN PUMPING THE WATER FROM YOUR BASEMENT.

• CAUTION: DO NOT USE GASOLINE-POWERED PUMPS OR GENERATORS INDOORS AS THEY PRODUCE DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE EXHAUST FUMES.

• PUMP THE WATER LEVEL DOWN 2 TO 3 FEET, MARK THE WATER LEVEL, AND WAIT OVERNIGHT.

• CHECK THE WATER LEVEL THE NEXT DAY. IF THE WATER WENT BACK UP AND COVERED YOUR MARK IT IS TOO EARLY TO DRAIN YOUR BASEMENT.

• WAIT ANOTHER 24 HOURS, PUMP THE WATER DOWN 2 TO 3 FEET AGAIN, AND CHECK THE WATER LEVEL THE NEXT DAY.

• WHEN THE WATER STOPS RISING, PUMP THE LEVEL DOWN ANOTHER 2 TO 3 FEET AND WAIT OVERNIGHT.
o REPEAT THE ABOVE STEPS UNTIL ALL THE WATER IS PUMPED OUT OF THE BASEMENT.


VickieLee-PIO
11:36 Emergency Operation Center
 

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