Is One Inch of Rain a Threat to Basement Flooding?

Flooding Concerns

• Depending on your location and flood risk, one inch of rain fall can cause damage to your basement. Those in a high-risk zone, such as those living in flood plains near rivers and streams, can see flash flooding if rain falls quickly. Even those in low-risk or moderate-risk zones can experience difficulties if one inch of rain further compounds other problems. For instance, one inch of rain in addition to melting snow or in combination with a backed up sewer line can cause basement flooding.

Potential Damage

• Take a moment and visualize what flooding in your basement would impact. Typically, just one inch of water is enough to ruin carpet and flooring. Personal possessions stored in boxes and placed on the floor are be damaged. Other basement items that commonly show up on claims related to basement flooding include heating systems, washers and dryers. In addition, you may have to replace damaged dry wall to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, which can both cause health problems down the road.

Estimated Costs

• Various estimates exist to help you determine the average cost of returning your basement to normal if you experience basement flooding. Keep in mind that one inch of rain may equate to less than one inch of flooding, however in combination with other factors, one inch of rain can further aggravate an ongoing situation and result in higher flooding levels. One inch of water in a basement typically results in damages of approximately $10,600 for a 1,000 square foot home and $20,920 for a 2,000 square foot home, according to the National Flood Insurance Program's Cost of Flooding tool.

Considerations

• You should take the time to prepare for the possibility of flooding, even if you reside in a low-risk zone. Talk to your insurance agent and obtain flood insurance. Get to know your policy limits and exclusions. For instance, your policy likely places a limitation on claims related to basement flooding so it is essential that you understand these limits before storing valuables and collectibles along the basement floor. As always, contact your insurance agent as soon as you discover basement flooding. In addition, call your local sewer district if you believe the flooding resulted from a combination of rain and sewer line backup.