flooded basement

[forgotten_aria]

Because of the large snow that was followed by huge amounts of rain that melted all the snow, our basement flooded to about 2-3". I ran out, got a utility pump for $100 that could pump to 1/8" (but needed 2 3/8" to prime, but I got around that.) I ordered it for pick up to make sure they actually had it in stock. The Wilmington Ace was super fast doing this and amazingly friendly in general.

While trying to plug it in, we discovered that the GFCI had done their job and blown when not one, but two extension cords were underwater. I didn't even think about there being a shock risk, so I'm very grateful for modern safety measures.

We got the pump pumping out a window and waited for the water to go down. Apparently my basement had multiple low spots, so I had to pump out different place. My exercise rooms eva mats were floating.
We started doing damage control on getting wet boxes out of it. Most of the stuff in my basement is raised up on plastic shelves. I think I need to make sure everything is from now on.

I couldn't find the wet filter for my shop vac and most stores had closed, so I went and got one that might or might not work, but it worked well enough. We shop vac'd and sponged up the remaining puddles.

I think I have most of the puddles pulled up, though there's part of the weight room floor that is pinned under the weight rack, so there might be some water under there.

We started the dehumidifier (it said 88%!) and are now waiting for things to dry out.

The damage seems minimal, the water was clean, we got to bed at a reasonable time. As disasters go, not too bad.

As always, G was a perfect partner.

There are reasons that a sump is not an ideal solution. Especially since our basement has multiple low points and also since I think the level of the pond greatly effects if we have water in our basement.

We're hoping this was an aberration, knowing that climate change does make such weird circumstances more likely, so we aren't going to do anything unless this happens a second time. We will make sure that we raise up anything off the floor from now on.

I might also have not discovered some of the damage. For example, will my squat rack rust? Somethings will just have to wait for time to tell.