Thunderstorms and lightning create the most beautiful skyscapes and keep the landscape lush and green around our beautiful city of Boston, Massachusetts. On the flip side, the Boston Metrowest communities struggle with flash flooding, flooded basements, lightning strikes, and more. Flooding from storms can cause extreme water damage to a home or office in a matter of minutes.  One of the causes of flooding is blocked storm drains. Blocked Storm Drains Storm drains are usually properly maintained by the local public works office to direct water to the nearest body of water. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to find storm drains covered with leaves and other debris preventing proper drainage especially during rainstorms. At any point, the storm drain system can become blocked and cause a disaster for those near the impacted storm drain. While we try to always keep our head up and looking at the skies, sometimes it’s helpful to watch the ground we walk and drive on and take note of the storm drains especially near your home or workplace. If you notice debris and leaves, either clear the drain grate yourself, or notify the local office of public works. Similarly, if you notice when rain water is not draining rapidly enough during a smaller rainfall, there may be blockage and public works should be notified right away. Water Rolls Downhill [caption id="attachment_3132" align="alignright" width="208"] Storm Sludge and Debris[/caption] Flood waters and blocked storm drains can cause a fierce water and mudslide right into your basement window. In one case, the homeowner lived at the bottom of the road and received the brunt of a raging flow of mud, water, and debris crashing through a basement window. The entire basement floor was covered with about a foot of this sludge and muddy water during a fairly brief, but strong downpour of rain. The homeowner had also witnessed the catastrophe during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and immediately had flashbacks to the devastation during and after the flood.  Thankfully, the storm was not nearly as catastrophic, but the homeowner was surprised at how similar feelings came over during this basement flooding event. The safety precautions taken for the “small” event were as paramount as the 2005 hurricane. Safety Precautions Don’t go it alone.  Electrical hazards are critical to recognize and resolve first. Calling a professional electrician should be a first call. You will want to call water damage removal professionals to ensure the water, sludge, and potential contaminants are extracted and cleaned up correctly. Water damage specialists, like Service Team of Professionals (STOP), have the most up to date training and equipment to safely and quickly stop the damage from occurring and restoring the area to a dry, safe environment. STOP Metrowest is an IICRC Certified Firm - safe, quality, and compassionate service is our priority! We provide 24/7 emergency water extraction and restoration of any water damage related issues in Framingham MA or other Metrowest MA communities like Sudbury MA, Holliston MA, and Westborough MA. Call STOP MetroWest at 508-753-3780. For more information, visit our webpage at STOP Metrowest.