Moorhead and Fargo Waiting and Braced for Weekend-Basements in Danger
With the Red River ready to burst over the banks and perhaps causing what can become a mammoth flood, the people living in the Moorhead, Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota areas are on edge, watching flood forecasts and helping local officials and the National Guard fill sand bags and ready levies.
As a homeowner, these are dreadful times filled with nervous anticipation. If you live in the area, be sure to keep a close eye on the news so you are given ample time to evacuate if told to do so. If you are fortunate and are not living in a direct danger zone, there is still the possibility that your home could be susceptible to flood damage. A flooded basement is a distinct possibility in many areas seemingly far from the swelling Red River’s banks, so you can only hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.
If you find that water is entering your basement, shout off the electricity in the basement but do not stand in water when you do so. You can use a dry, wooden bench or pallet and wear rubber boots that are dry on the inside as well as rubber gloves. If this is not a possibility, contact the utility company. If you find more than six inches of water in your basement, let it be until the water around the outside of the house recedes. This will ensure that your basement walls and floors do not cave in as the water helps to brace the walls against the extra pressure. Once the water starts to recede, pump out a third of it every few hours. Use a gas powered sump pump. As the water is pumping out, clean the walls with clean water and get the mud out while it is wet.
If you have heavy appliances in the basement and they have become wet, set them up on blocks so that they can dry. It is often best to call in a service repairman to check the washers, driers and freezers once the flood is over to see if the motors are damaged before attempting to use them again. Do not be tempted to turn the heat on high in the damp basement as this will encourage the growth of mold. Instead, open windows and use fans to dry the basement. Remove baseboards and drill ½ inch holes so that the areas behind the walls can dry out.
