For a homeowner, fewer things are worse than a flood in a finished basement.  What can you do to protect yourself?  Well, nothing is absolute and every 10 years there seems to be a “100 year flood” but here are a few reasonably prudent things you can do.  1) Check with your insurance company to see if you’re covered – you’ll find this piece of advice more helpful if you do this before the flood occurs.  2) Sump pumps are useless if the power fails – consider a battery backup on the pump.  3) Make sure the gutters are clean, your landscaping is pitched away from your home’s foundation, and that the downspouts direct water a few feet away from the house.  I can’t tell you how many wet basements I’ve seen that were caused by downspouts terminating at the base of the foundation so the water is forced to eventually make a path to your newly laid carpet.  For more information about my experience with web basements – don’t hesitate to reach out to me.  Brandon@BrandonGreen.com