Storms Austen and Boelo: flooded cellars, sump pumps and what to check now

On Friday 23 October, storm Austen crossed the country. On Saturday evening, Boelo followed: as L’Avenir points out, you have to go back to Eunice and Franklin in February 2022 to find two storms within 48 hours. After a very dry summer, this rain fell on hard ground and into sewers that filled up quickly. Here is what it means for your home, and what to check over the coming days.

For Austen, the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) issued orange wind warnings for Flanders and Hainaut, and rain warnings for the whole country. RTBF reported a gust of 97 km/h at Chièvres. The non-emergency number 1722 had been activated as early as 21 October.

For Boelo, Belgium stayed under yellow warnings for wind and rain, with Luxembourg province on orange until Sunday morning, and a yellow storm surge warning for the provinces of East Flanders and Antwerp. In Brussels, firefighters were called out 64 times between 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday morning, 39 of them for flooding, according to BX1. In Namur province, La DH reports cellars that had to be pumped out in Ciney and Beauraing, and power cuts in Lustin and Bomal.

Some relatively good news: in Wallonia, rivers started from very low levels, which according to RTBF made major river flooding unlikely. The damage comes mainly from runoff and overflowing sewers.

Go down to the cellar, even if everything looks dry: check around floor drains, the toilet, the shower and the washing machine connection. Traces of water or silt around a drain point to the start of a sewer backflow.

If you have a sump pump, check that it started properly during the storm: water level in the pit, float moving freely, no unusual noise. A power cut stops the pump at the worst possible moment: after one, make sure it has restarted. A pump that ran for a long time, or that sucked in silt and leaves, should be checked before the next rain.

A backflow valve on the sewer connection can jam because of debris. If it is accessible, have it checked and cleaned. Our article on sewer backflow explains its role and its limits.

Your rainwater tank has probably filled up well. Check that the overflow drains properly and that the inlet filter is not clogged with leaves torn off by the wind: a blocked filter makes gutters overflow against the façade. Also check downpipes after the gusts.

Heavy rain after a long dry spell can wash what had built up on the surface into a shallow well. If your well water is used for drinking or cooking, watch its colour, smell and clarity, check that the wellhead is properly closed and that the UV steriliser is working, and have the water tested if in doubt.

Do not take risks: wear boots and gloves, sewer water is contaminated. Switch off the cellar’s electricity if water reaches sockets or appliances, and only switch it back on after a check. Take photos, note the highest water level and report the damage to your insurer as soon as possible. For non-urgent help from the fire service, the authorities point to the 1722.be portal; if there is danger, call 112.

We check, repair and replace sump pumps and pumping stations throughout Belgium, and we inspect backflow valves, rainwater tanks and well installations. If your cellar is flooding or your pump will not restart, our emergency service answers 24/7 on +32 4 325 10 02.