Boston Braces for Affects of Spring Storms
A third major spring rainstorm in less than one month is drenching the Boston area. Weather experts are predicting the possibility of potentially dangerous flooding today throughout the area as the National Weather Service is posting flood advisories and warnings all the way from Maine to the Carolinas with as much as 7 inches of rain expected to fall.
There is standing water on major roadways in the Boston area, making driving perilous. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has declared a state of emergency and has asked the National Guard to stand by in case its assistance becomes necessary. Many rivers and streams area already at or above flood stage. Flood watches and warnings extend into much of northern New England with melting snow only adding to the problem. The rain is expected to increase in intensity today and continue to fall for the next couple of days.
Business owners in the Boston area are scrambling to move computers, important documents and other items to higher levels. Many of these same people have already lost thousands of dollars worth of valuables earlier this month when their premises were flooded with up to 7 feet of dirty, muddy water.
In 1983, eleven inches of rain fell on Boston during March which broke a rainfall record. Nearly 10 inches has already fallen on the city before the start of this newest storm, so that record may very well be shattered. The ground in Boston and the surrounding area is so saturated that the new rainfall simply cannot soak in.
Residents are advised to take every precaution to ensure the safety of themselves and of their homes. For those living in flood-threatened areas, it is advised to keep one eye on the weather and to listen to what local emergency authorities are reporting as evacuations may very well be necessary. Families should discuss where to meet in the case of an evacuation and they should also be reminded to consider the family pets as well. It is a good idea to move valuables, electronics, food and clothing from low levels in home and/or business up to a higher ground.
Homeowners should see to it that their gutters and downspouts are clear and in good working order. Loose roofing materials should be repaired as well to avoid the possibility of wet attics or crawl spaces. Houses in low lying and flood-prone areas should have window wells blocked with tight fitting, domed window well covers. The ground around the home should be graded on a slope running away from the home to force standing rainwater away from the structure.
Residents of Fargo ND Prepare for the Possibility of Flooding
If your property is flooded it can be very costly, both in terms of money and time. It is also highly inconvenient and heartbreaking to find your home or business filled with dirty water and debris. Hopefully and with a bit of luck, no one gets hurt as a result of the emergency. Boston residents are experiencing the aftermath of a water damage disaster following last weekends horrific rainstorm that caused significant flood damages to hundreds of homes througout the city of boston.
If you live in the Fargo, North Dakota area, then you are undoubtedly keeping a very close eye on the news. The recent big snow storm has caused the Red River, once again, to rise over its banks. Several dozen homes are already partially or completely submerged and local officials and the National Guard are literally working around the clock readying levies and filling millions of sandbags. But what can you do, as a home or business owner in the area?
You have to decide what to do if the river swells and overflows its banks-which is a very strong possibility. Do you have arrangements made concerning a possible evacuation? Have you decided to ride it out and hope for the best? This is your decision to make, unless of course you are told to leave by local authorities. No matter what you decide to do-stay or go-you still should prepare your home or building against rushing flood water should the worst happen.
First things first. You should begin by moving your valuables upstairs. This includes computers, TVs, personal papers, clothing, food, etc. If you are in a very high risk area, remove these items from the premises completely. If you do not have a second floor, set all that you can up on shelves that are far off the floor. Water can enter your home around closed doors, through cable holes in wall as well as seep in through external walls and through the ground and then through to your flooring. Therefore, you should put up door guards on the outside of your home to hold back low levels of water. Once the guards are in place stack flood sacks or sandbags on top at least three layers deep. For window wells, if there is time, purchase high quality window well coverings that lock into place. If not, board them up and stack sandbags tightly around them.
If you are taking medication, be sure to take that out of the risk zone. Family pets must be cared for as well, so be sure that your evacuation plan includes your dogs, cats or other pets you may have. It is a very good idea to have a sump pump on hand as well as full cleanup plan in mind because time is of the essence when it comes to a flooded home or business.
Flood Safety Clean Up Tips for Boston Area Residents
The incredibly powerful early spring rainstorm that swept across the eastern portion of the United States last week left the Boston area especially hard hit. Local residents reported that most could not recall any storm in recent history that packed as strong a punch as this mighty Nor’easterner did. High gusting winds and pounding rains relentlessly battered the area for several days, causing widespread damage to roads, railway tracks, city streets, businesses and homes. Americans were glued to their television sets as they watched vehicles being swept down city streets, people wading and sometimes swimming to safety and the sight of area residents using boats to survey the damage.
Thankfully the storm has moved out to sea, but now residents are forced with the daunting task of returning home to see what is left of their homes. Many are faced with standing flood water inside their houses. Some homeowners in Quincy returned home after being evacuated to find that their furniture, computers and personal items were floating in up to seven feet of filthy, dirty water. Some unfortunate city residents are left facing tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. It was a surreal scene with lifeboats making their way up the streets carrying local residents returning home to salvage what little was left untouched by the ravaging floodwater.
If you are one of the tens of thousand residents affected in the Boston area, be sure to exercise extreme caution when returning to your home. Be sure that the utility companies have given your area the ‘all clear’ to ensure you won’t be injured by downed power lines and/or gas leaks. The first thing that should be done is to contact your insurance company so that a representative can come out and make an assessment. Take care not to turn on the electricity inside your home. If you have access to a sump pump, great! Get all of the standing water out. Set your major appliances up on blocks, remove water soaked carpeting, food and personal items. Not everything can be saved unfortunately, and the general rule is: when in doubt-throw it out’. Flood waters often consist of raw sewage and harmful chemicals so it is better to be safe than sorry.
If the task is too enormous for you to handle, then get in touch quickly with a flood cleanup company. Remember that the clock is ticking and harmful mold and mildew only needs a couple of days to start growing and spreading-which will create even further problems for you. The Boston area is home to numerous flood remediation companies, so if the lines are busy at one, keeping calling down through your list until you get an answer. These professionals will arrive quickly with the heavy-duty equipment necessary to remove the standing water from your home and to dry it out completely.
