Parts of the nation were blanketed by huge amounts of snow this past week. Washington, D.C. reported more than 30 inches of snow—and has already broken a record for the most snow in a winter—a record that goes back to the 1800s.
Other areas in the Northeast—including Philadelphia and New York—were the recipients of large snowfalls, too. And the upper Midwest, known for its frigid winters, has seen its fair share of snow this winter, as well.
Heavy winter snows, especially those later in the year, regularly raise concerns for excessive spring flooding. Various reports have already warned of possible flooding in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, an area that has been severely affected by spring flooding recently. While the area still debates a solution to their recurring flooding issue, the snow keeps falling and spring keeps approaching—albeit slowly.
While cities and communities can devise ways to deal with flooding, do homeowners have any recourse when it comes to spring flooding—when it comes to water seeping into their homes’ foundations?
Homeowners do have a few options that can help prevent or at least limit possible spring-time flooding.
First, homeowners can remove large piles of snow from near the foundations of their homes. These large piles, often accumulated from melting roofs, are the perfect repository for water to seep into foundations and basements once the weather warms.
Second, having clean and effective gutters can help the water from melting snow flow away from your house’s foundation, thus preventing it from seeping into the basement. It’s often best to clean your gutters right before winter, thus helping to ensure the free flow of water once spring arrives.
Finally, making sure the ground near your house is landscaped correctly goes a long way toward preventing water from getting into your home.
Some years are worse than others when it comes to spring flooding. And this year appears to be pretty bad for many areas of the country.
Related posts:
- Can I Eat That Snow?
- Red River Flooding Sparks Need for Water Filtration Systems
- Preventing Ice Dams
- What Is Black Ice and How Do I Avoid It?
- Don’t Let Montezuma’s Revenge Ruin Your Spring Break!
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