Mother Nature can be fickle. You pray for a shower to water your gardens and wash your car, and she gives you a downpour of biblical proportions. All of that rain has to go somewhere. With any luck, it is swept through the sewer systems and out to the ocean. But sometimes storms generate so much rain that flooding occurs in low-lying areas. Rivers and creeks overflow their banks, and water floods into streets, yards, and basements. You can’t stop the rain. You can, however, take steps to keep your home dry and safe.
First, clear all of the drains on your property and on the street. These metal grates are magnets for rotting leaves and piles of garbage. All of that garbage clogs the drains and prevents water from escaping down to the sewer system. If the water cannot properly drain, it will pool around the street, your …