Storm Prep Checklist for Chester County Homeowners: 48 Hours Before Heavy Rain

To prepare your basement for heavy rain, test the sump pump and its backup, clear gutters and extend downspouts, move valuables and boxes off the basement floor, take a quick photo inventory and sign up for stream gauge alerts. Then check the basement as soon as it's safe after the storm. Most of this takes an afternoon.

By West Chester Flood Cleanup Editorial Team · Published 2026-11-05

When the forecast shows a tropical system or a slow-moving line of storms, you usually get a day or two of warning. Use it. Here is a checklist in the order we'd do it.

Test the sump and backup

The sump pump is your basement's main defense against groundwater. It tends to fail exactly when it's needed most.

• Pour a bucket of water into the pit. The float should rise, the pump should start, and the water should drop quickly. Listen for unusual grinding or humming.
• Check the discharge outside. Water should exit away from the house, and the pipe should be clear of leaves and not crushed.
• Check the outlet and breaker. Make sure the pump is plugged into a working outlet, ideally a dedicated circuit.
• Test the battery backup. Unplug the main pump and pour water in again. The backup should run. Check the battery's age and charge.
• No backup? Buy or rent a portable utility pump and keep it with a hose near the pit.
• Generator plan. If you have one, check the fuel and know where it will sit, outdoors and away from windows.
• High-water alarm. A battery alarm or Wi-Fi sensor in the pit warns you before water reaches the floor.

If your pump has failed before, read our sump pump failure guide for what to do if it quits mid-storm.

Gutters, downspouts and grading

Most basement water starts as roof water. A one-inch rain on an average roof sheds a lot of water, and all of it ends up at your downspouts.

• Clean gutters, especially in fall when leaves pile up.
• Make sure downspouts are connected and not leaking at the joints.
• Extend downspouts several feet away from the foundation. Temporary extensions or splash blocks are fine for a storm.
• Clear window wells of leaves and debris. Add covers if they fill with rain.
• Clear yard drains and the storm inlet in front of your house if it's safe.
• Look for low spots along the foundation where water pools. A few bags of soil to fill a depression can help in the short term.
• Close basement windows and doors and check weatherstripping on bulkhead doors.

Raise valuables and utilities

Anything on the basement floor is at risk. Lift it.

• Move important papers, photos and keepsakes upstairs or into waterproof bins on high shelves.
• Get cardboard boxes off the floor. Cardboard soaks up water fast and grows mold.
• Raise electronics and small appliances onto shelves or tables.
• Roll up area rugs and move them up.
• Put furniture on blocks if it has to stay.
• Know how to shut off power and gas to the basement, and keep a flashlight near the stairs.
• Longer term: when replacing a furnace, water heater, washer or electrical panel, consider raising it off the floor.

Photo inventory ahead of time

A ten-minute video now can save days of work on an insurance claim.

• Walk through the basement and main floor with your phone recording. Open closets and cabinets.
• Narrate: say what things are, roughly how old and what they cost.
• Photograph serial numbers on the furnace, water heater, washer, dryer and electronics.
• Back it up to cloud storage.
• Store important documents (insurance policy, IDs, deeds) in a waterproof bag or scan them.
• Check your coverage. Know whether you have a water backup endorsement and flood insurance. Pennsylvania's guidance notes that standard homeowners policies exclude flood and that sump and sewer backup usually needs a separate endorsement (pa.gov flood insurance).

Watch the gauges and alerts

Know what's happening on your nearest creek.

• Sign up for stream gauge alerts. The Chester County Water Resources Authority's Flood Tool covers 19 USGS stream gauges and offers text and email alerts (chesco.org water maps). Our guide to Chester County stream gauge alerts shows how.
• Turn on weather alerts on your phone for flash flood warnings.
• Move cars off low streets and away from creeks before the heaviest rain.
• Know two routes out that don't cross low roads.
• Charge phones and battery packs.

After the storm: first checks

When the rain stops and it's safe:

• Check the basement with a flashlight before turning on lights. Don't enter standing water if anything electrical could be in it.
• Look at the sump pit. Is the pump still running and keeping up?
• Check walls, corners and floor drains for new water.
• Photograph any water before cleaning.
• Remove water and wet items quickly. Mold can start within 24 to 48 hours, according to the EPA.
• Run a dehumidifier for several days even if only a little water came in.
• Call your insurer if there's damage, and ask which coverage applies.

If water got in, our basement flooding service handles water removal, drying and moisture readings. See our West Goshen page for local service details.

FAQ

How often should I test my sump pump?

Every few months, and always before a forecast heavy rain.

Are sandbags worth it for a basement?

They can redirect surface water from a doorway or window well, but they won't stop groundwater. Focus on pumps and drainage first.

Should I turn off power to the basement before a storm?

Only if flooding is likely and you won't need the sump pump on that circuit. Never cut power to the pump unless you have a backup running.

Water in the basement after the storm?

Call (555) 000-0000 for fast water removal and drying. (555) 000-0000 · Get a Free Quote