Storm Damage Restoration in Dearborn

Why do Dearborn basements flood in big thunderstorms?

Heavy rain fills the combined sewer faster than it can drain. The city says its stormwater system was built for about three inches in 24 hours, and the June 2021 storm dropped over seven and a half inches in about six hours. The overflow rises through basement floor drains.

East Dearborn sits at a lower elevation than west Dearborn and was developed before World War II, so its sewers were built to the standards of that time. The city also says later infill removed several surface streams that used to lead to the Rouge River, which left fewer places for water to go. In June 2021 the northeast and southeast ends took the worst and most widespread damage, although the whole city was affected.

This is not a one-off. On 11 August 2014 a storm overwhelmed Metro Detroit's combined sewers and caused combined-sewer overflows and basement backups across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, with Romulus airport recording 4.57 inches against an earlier record of 2.06 inches for that date.

Clay soil in the Ecorse Creek and Rouge watersheds also limits how much water the ground can absorb. When the street, the lawn and the sewer are all full, a basement is the lowest thing left. For the cleanup itself, see sewage backup cleanup.

What should I do first after a storm floods my basement?

Stay out of any water that reaches outlets, appliances or the panel, keep children and pets away, and treat anything from a drain as sewage. Do not run a household wet vacuum on it. Photograph the damage, then call so a crew can plan equipment and protection.

If the power is still on and water is rising near it, do not go down to switch things off. The utility or an electrician can cut service at the meter. If you can reach the panel from a dry spot, shut off the breakers for the basement.

Sewage water carries bacteria and is a health hazard, not a cleaning job. Gloves and boots are not enough protection for a large backup. The crew arrives with protective equipment and the right extraction gear.

Photograph the water line on the walls and the items affected before they are moved. Tell your insurer early, and when you describe the loss, follow the state insurance regulator's advice: do not just call it a flood, because storm rainwater intrusion, a sewer backup or a failing sump pump may be treated differently under your policy.

• Keep out of water near electrics
• Do not run a household vacuum on sewage
• Keep children and pets out
• Take photos before anything is moved
• Call your insurer early and ask about a water-backup endorsement

What about wind and tree damage to the roof and windows?

A crew can tarp a damaged roof section or board up a broken window to stop more rain getting in, then dry what is already wet. Replacing the roof, windows or siding is a licensed contractor's job, and a roofer should look at lifted shingles and flashing.

Summer thunderstorms here can bring gusts that lift shingle edges, break limbs and push rain sideways into window frames. The damage often shows the next day as a stain in a corner of the ceiling or damp insulation around a chimney.

Temporary protection is a short-term measure. A tarp holds for a limited time and does not replace a proper roof repair. Keep the repair estimate separate from the drying estimate, and for work of $600 or more check that the contractor holds a LARA licence.

If a tree has hit the house, stay out of the damaged area until it has been checked, and do not touch any lines on or near the limb. Call the utility for downed wires. The same ceiling stains are covered in the ceiling water damage page.

Will insurance cover storm and sewer damage?

That is decided by your insurer under your own policy. Michigan's insurance regulator says water and sewer back-up is not automatically covered and that flood insurance is a separate policy that typically takes 30 days to start. Ask your agent about a water-backup endorsement.

A standard homeowners policy often covers sudden wind or hail damage to the roof and the water that follows it. It usually does not cover surface flooding from a river or creek, and it does not cover sewer or drain backup unless an endorsement was added. Since backup is the typical Dearborn-area loss, that endorsement is the question to ask.

Flood coverage is a different policy, from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer, and it generally has a waiting period; the state regulator says to expect about 30 days. It cannot be bought on the day of a storm.

We do not decide or promise coverage. The crew documents the damage with photos and moisture readings that you can share with your insurer.

How do I get ready before the next storm season?

Clear gutters and downspouts, keep stored items off the basement floor, test your sump pump and its power, and ask a plumber about a backwater valve and a battery backup. Review your insurance for a water-backup endorsement before the storm, not after.

Storm season here runs from late spring through summer. In a normal year Detroit Metro Airport gets about 33 inches of precipitation, with June, July and August the wettest months, so those are the months to be ready.

A sump pump needs power, and power often fails in the storms that matter. See the sump pump failure page for how that call goes. A backwater valve or a battery backup is plumbing work done by a licensed plumber and permitted by the city.

Detroit's Basement Backup Protection Program helps Detroit homeowners with valves and pumps, but it applies to Detroit addresses only, not to Dearborn. Ask your own city's department of public works what programs exist.