Heavy Rain Water Intrusion in Brockton, MA

Why does storm water keep showing up after the rain stops?

Because the soil around the house stays saturated, and it keeps pushing water toward the foundation for a day or more. The water held in the ground is released slowly, and the cellar and lower walls keep taking it in.

Once the ground is full, every shower sends more water along the same path. A house dried after one storm can be wet again after the next, unless the grade and the gutters are fixed or the water is directed away from the wall.

The crew checks the ground at the foundation and the lowest openings during the drying, because the readings will keep rising if the water is still arriving from outside.

What should I move first when water comes into a room?

Move valuables and electrical equipment up and out of the water first, then furniture if it is safe, then soft goods. Work from the outside in, and stop when the water reaches a live outlet or the panel.

Lift items onto blocks or shelves and keep them away from the wet floor. Do not move a large item that is still standing in the water, because the weight can make the floor give way.

Photograph the room with the water level visible and keep a note of what was moved and where. That record matters for the claim and saves time when the crew arrives.

Does storm water count as flood water?

It can, depending on the source and the policy. Water from the street or a general flood is often treated differently from rain that came through the house's openings. Many standard policies exclude flood water, and the wording decides which category applies.

The source of the water is the question that decides the claim. The crew records the entry point, the path and the weather, so the insurer can see what happened.

Massachusetts consumers are directed first to the insurer or the producer, and then to the Division of Insurance. The written record is what makes that route work.

What can I do to keep storm water out next time?

Improve the grade so the ground falls away from the house, clear and extend the downspouts, cover or drain window wells and seal cracks in the foundation. A sump or drainage system may help in some houses, and a qualified contractor can advise on what suits the site.

Fixing the grade is usually the most effective step, because it stops the water reaching the foundation in the first place. It is also the least visible, so it is often forgotten once the drying is done.

The crew can note the entry points and the likely fixes in the report, but the repair work is done by a qualified contractor, and the scope will say so.

What happens to the cellar after a storm?

The cellar is pumped, cleaned and dried. Its floor, the base of the walls and any stored items are checked, and the readings show whether the moisture has reached the framing above.

Stored boxes, shelving and appliances in the cellar are often the first losses. Photograph them, lift them off the floor if that is safe and list anything that has to be discarded.

The cellar's readings are logged each day, because the ground outside may keep feeding water into the cellar for days. The drying is finished only when the readings have stayed at standard.

After the storm, walk the outside of the house with the drying log in hand. Look at the grade, the gutters and the window wells, and note each place the water ran or pooled. A short list of those places turns a single loss into a plan, and it gives the contractor a starting point for the fix.