by Jeremiah Wilcox
Fri, April 4th 2025 at 6:01 PM
Water and mud coat the floor of Jami Lane’s home in Nashville, Ill., after a nearby creek flooded on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Lane said the floodwaters reached three feet deep on the main floor of the home, and had never previously entered the house in her roughly 20 years of living there. (Ben Gray/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio — It’s a homeowner’s nightmare. The rainy downpour from outside pouring into your basement.
More storms are heading to Central Ohio this weekend, and that means more flooding and rising water concerns inside your home.
Blair Baumann, who owns Fritz Baumann & Sons, Inc., said Friday that it doesn’t take long for your basement to flood.
“It can happen really quickly,” he said. “The whole foundation of your house if you dig it out there’s gravel. Depending on square footage, you can have quite a bit of water really quick.”
A backed-up drain and sump pump failure can be costly to repair. Baumann offered advice to help homeowners avoid unnecessary headaches:
- Check your outdoor gutters throughout the year
- Do maintenance checks around your home’s sump pump and drainage systems ahead of spring weather
- If unsure about proper drainage systems around the home, seek a professional’s opinion
Across Central Ohio, rain and possibly severe storms are on the way overnight early Saturday. Baumann said it’s better to be proactive than reactive.
Marita Salkowski is with the American Red Cross, and said the group already is dealing with people displaced from severe weather across the state. She said you should have a checklist to ensure you’re prepared.
“Emergency kits consist of water — one gallon per person for every day,” she said, adding that it’s key to keep your important documents in place.
That kit also should include:
- Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Extra batteries
- First Aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Click here for more weekend weather coverage.
