Midwest summers bring barbecues, ball games—and suddenly 3 inches of rain in 30 minutes. Last July’s derecho alone produced $1.1 B in insured losses across Illinois. As Chicago’s go-to disaster partner, Midway Restoration compiled our top preventive moves for facilities managers before clouds roll in.

1. Inspect roof drains and downspouts

A single blocked scupper can back up 150 gallons in ten minutes. Perform a visual check (and photo log) after every major pollen drop.

2. Test sump pumps—with power

Pull the float switch, then trip the breaker to ensure battery back-ups engage. Document run-times; anything under two minutes signals battery fatigue.

3. Seal the building envelope

Walk the perimeter with a flashlight at dusk; light slivers under doors often equal water intrusion points. Quick-cure urethane seals take minutes to apply.

4. Elevate critical equipment

Move IT racks and mechanical controls 18 inches above slab grade—NFPA recommends 12 inches, we build in a margin.

5. Pre-stage moisture meters

If water finds a way in, time is your enemy. Meters at each quadrant let teams confirm dryness—or trigger an immediate call to mitigation pros—within the first hour, when mold risk is lowest.

6. Update your vendor call tree

Nothing stalls response like searching e-mails for phone numbers. Midway’s 24/7 hotline (312-226-1101) should sit beside security and elevator contacts.

Real-world save

A downtown client trimmed downtime from four days to 18 hours by executing this list ahead of the August ‘24 microburst. Insurance praised the “exceptional preparedness,” slashing deductible by 40 %.

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