Flooding in Everett, WA: the figures

Lowering the risk in Everett

Everett's rain is steady rather than hard, with only 3 days a year bringing an inch or more by NOAA climate normals, so the threat is ground that stays wet for weeks. Census figures show 49% of homes here were built before 1980 and 20% before 1950, and older basements let in groundwater when the soil is saturated. Keep downspouts clear of fir needles and moss, extend downspouts well past the foundation, and regrade any bed that slopes toward the house.

In a basement, pour a bucket of water into the sump pit to check the pump, and add a battery backup for winter windstorms that cut power. Clean out window wells and fit covers. Store papers, photos and electronics on shelves instead of the basement floor. If you live near the waterfront, where FEMA's National Risk Index rates coastal flood loss at 11 per $100,000 of building value, look up your address on the FEMA flood map. FEMA notes that a new flood policy has a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect.

With 50% of homes rented and 35% in buildings with 5 or more units, a leak often crosses from one unit to the next, so tenants should tell the manager at once and keep renters insurance. When water gets in, switch off power to wet rooms, photograph the damage and call. Water mitigation starts with extraction and moisture readings, and water removal from carpet works only when the water was clean. Storm water and groundwater are Category 3, so the pad usually comes out.