Before the Rain: Get Your Whatcom County Home Ready for Heavy Weather
A gutter overflowing beside the foundation. A driveway drain buried under leaves. A sump pump that hasn’t been tested since last winter.
These are small problems on a dry September afternoon. During three days of heavy rain, they can become expensive ones.
After working as a carpenter, inspecting roughly 700 homes, and helping people buy and sell houses for 20 years, I pay close attention to where water goes. Roof water. Driveway runoff. Water coming downhill from the neighboring property.
Every house has a drainage story. Ideally, you understand yours before the weather tests it.
Whatcom County Has Already Had Several Warnings
We don’t have to reach very far back for examples.
November 2021: Bellingham Airport recorded 14.57 inches of rain during the month, the November record listed by the National Weather Service. Whatcom County subsequently reported damage to 13 flood-control structures from the disaster. Recovery work continued years afterward.
December 2025: Whatcom County reported that the Nooksack River rose above its 2021 levels. Evacuations affected Sumas, Nooksack, Everson, Marietta, and portions of Ferndale. The event also brought overtopped levees, bridge closures, a mudslide on Silver Lake Road, and a landslide that damaged a home in Kendall.
Two destructive flood disasters, approximately four years apart.
What about the phrase “100-year flood”? It means a flood of that magnitude has an estimated 1% chance of occurring in any given year at a particular location. It doesn’t mean we get 99 safe years afterward. And a 100-year rainfall event and a 100-year river flood are different measurements.
Your House Doesn’t Need to Be Beside a River to Have Water Problems
An overwhelmed footing drain, backed-up downspout, or low spot beside a crawlspace opening can create trouble well away from the Nooksack.
Before the sustained rain arrives, walk around your house and ask: If water collects here, where does it go next?
Look especially closely at downhill-facing doors, basement stairwells, garage thresholds, window wells, and places where pavement meets the house.
Then put this checklist to work.
Put Together Your Heavy-Rain “Mandatory Gear” List Before It Gets Really Wet
First, Do the Work
Clean gutters and flush downspouts. Confirm water reaches the intended outlet. A clean gutter attached to a plugged underground pipe still has a problem.
Check discharge locations. Roof water should drain away from the foundation to an appropriate outlet, without creating trouble for a neighbor.
Clear surface drains and accessible driveway culvert openings. Remove leaves and debris before water arrives. Report blocked public drainage to the responsible agency.
Have questionable roof flashing and leaks repaired. Pay attention to chimneys, skylights, plumbing vents, and roof valleys. Schedule a roofer while conditions are safe.
Check the crawlspace or basement while it’s dry. Note stains, damp insulation, musty odors, and evidence of previous standing water. Photograph a baseline.
Test your sump pump, if you have one. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, confirm discharge, and test the backup system. Know what happens when the electricity fails.
Move vulnerable belongings up. Get cardboard boxes, documents, electronics, and keepsakes off basement and garage floors.
Review your insurance now. Ask specifically about flood coverage and sewer or drain backup. Standard homeowners insurance generally excludes flood damage, and NFIP policies typically have a 30-day waiting period.
Then, Have the Gear Ready
Waterproof boots, rain gear, and work gloves.
Headlamps, flashlights, spare batteries, and charged phone power banks.
A rake, shovel, and buckets for routine debris removal before flooding starts.
Battery-powered water alarms near vulnerable appliances, basement low points, or the sump.
Heavy-duty plastic sheeting, tarps, and appropriate fasteners for temporary protection that can be installed safely from the ground.
Sandbags or suitable flood barriers if your property needs them. Know where they belong and how to install them. They offer limited protection, not a guarantee.
A suitable utility pump and discharge hose if you have a known need. Set up a safe, manufacturer-approved power arrangement beforehand. A pump is no reason to enter a flooded crawlspace.
Food, drinking water, medications, pet supplies, and a packed evacuation bag. Start with at least three days of essentials and one gallon of water per person per day.
An outage plan. If you use a portable generator, operate it outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. Have working carbon-monoxide alarms.
Know When to Stop Protecting the House and Leave
Sign up for alerts through Whatcom Ready, identify an evacuation route, and account for pets and anyone who needs extra time.
Never drive through a flooded road or enter standing water that could contact electrical equipment. Follow evacuation instructions promptly.
The time to find your headlamp, test your pump, and clear that drain is now.
If you’re preparing to sell and want help deciding which drainage or maintenance concerns deserve attention first, schedule a 15-minute call with me. We can identify priorities and the professionals you may need.
