04/17/2026
As many in the Chicago area experienced, Tuesday night brought severe storms and heavy rainfall. Living on the Northwest Side, we all know how common basement backups and sump pump overflows can be—and unfortunately, this storm was a tough reminder of that.
A lot of homeowners were impacted, including my wife’s parents, who recently moved here to be closer to the grandkids.
These photos are from their basement, where about 4 inches of water came up through the drains. When water enters this way, it’s not just rainwater—it’s often a contaminated mix that includes sewage 🤢.
Thankfully, when I set up their policy, I made sure they had sewer backup and sump overflow coverage—an endorsement that’s often overlooked. So when they called me Wednesday morning, I was able to give them some much-needed good news.
Beyond coverage, having the right help matters. I connected them with Jason at Paul Davis Restoration of NW Chicago, IL, a local small business owner I met through the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce who truly cares about helping people. His team was on-site by Wednesday afternoon, and in less than 48 hours, major progress has already been made—water removed, damaged materials cleared out, and drying equipment in place. There’s still work ahead, but the space will be properly dried, sanitized, and ready for repairs.
Unfortunately, not everyone’s situation will end this way. Many homeowners either declined this coverage—or were never offered it—and are now facing significant out-of-pocket costs.
If you’re dealing with this right now or even just wondering whether you’re protected, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to take a look.
📞 773-912-0045
If you just went through this and found out your policy doesn’t cover it, I don’t blame you for being upset—you should be. This isn’t some rare, unpredictable event… this is one of the most common claims in our area. And yet every year, people find out after the fact that they don’t have the coverage they thought they did.
Don’t be the next person standing in a flooded basement thinking, “I thought I was covered.”
