After hot days, the weather can change quickly: first the air is stagnant, then thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong gusts follow. For the household, it's not just the balcony that matters. Water often finds its way in through basement entrances, light wells, garage driveways, patio doors, or clogged drains.
The Austrian Road Safety Board (KFV) points out that even a few centimeters of protection in critical areas can make a difference. You don't necessarily have to stack sandbags for an emergency. Often, a clear drainage channel, a quick basement check, and a clear plan of what to do first during heavy rain are enough.
The 20-minute round before the heavy rain
When a warning is issued or the sky visibly changes, it is worth doing a quick round of the house. First, check the places where water could run directly into living or basement areas: basement entrance, garage driveway, light well, patio door, front door threshold, and balcony drain.
- Clear drains:Remove leaves, blossoms, soil, and toys from gutters, gullies, and balcony drains.
- Secure thresholds:Keep towels, mobile barriers, or sandbags ready where water is likely to accumulate first.
- Clear away loose items:Remove shoes, flower pots, trash bags, light furniture, and electrical appliances from the path of the water.
- Relieve the basement floor:Move boxes, textiles, photos, and important documents to higher ground.
- Keep a flashlight ready:Power outages can occur during thunderstorms.
Basement and storage room: off the floor
Items that are particularly sensitive to water are often stored in the basement: boxes, seasonal clothing, tools, old photos, documents, supplies, or electrical appliances. Do not place sensitive items directly on the floor. Shelves, sturdy plastic boxes, and a clear separation between non-sensitive and valuable items are better.
Those who rarely go into the basement easily overlook small warning signs: musty smell, damp corners, leaves in the light well, or water stains on the threshold. After hot days and before announced thunderstorms, a quick look is sensible.
Do not enter the basement in case of acute flooding
If water is already entering, safety comes first. Do not enter a flooded basement if electricity could be involved or if the water is rising rapidly. Elevators, underground garages, and steeply sloping driveways are also not places to wait out heavy rain. In case of doubt, call for help and get people out of endangered areas.
Important documents, medication, chargers, a flashlight, and a power bank should not have to be searched for. A small emergency spot in the apartment saves time, especially when children, elderly relatives, or pets need to be taken care of.
Don't forget the balcony, terrace, and garden
Heavy rain does not only affect houses with basements. On balconies and terraces, clogged drains, full plant saucers, and light objects can quickly cause problems. Empty saucers, place sensitive plants in a protected area, and remove items that could tip over in the wind or block the drain.
After the rain: remove water accumulations promptly. This protects plants, reduces odors, and removes potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Prevention when nothing is happening
The best time for real precaution is not during the thunderstorm. Check in peace whether backflow valves, light wells, basement windows, gutters, and drains need maintenance. On HORA, you can also assess which natural hazards are relevant for your address.
For rental apartments: document damages, clogged common areas, or problematic drains quickly and report them to the property management. Photos help if it needs to be reconstructed later what happened.
Read also
- Thunderstorm check for balcony and garden
- Power outage during a heatwave: How to properly handle your fridge and freezer
- Emergency Checklist for Families
- Vacation check for the apartment
- Planning household chores in the heat
- Gardening in the heat
Sources and further information
- KFV: Heavy rain and flooding
- Austrian Civil Protection Association: Crisis-proof household
- oesterreich.gv.at: Flooding
- HORA: Recognizing natural hazards
- BMLUK: Flood protection campaign
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
