Flooding can also occur in streets when rainwater can’t flow into a storm sewer. Basements can flood when rainwater can’t flow away from the house or when the sewers back up. These problems are usually caused by heavy local rains and are often not related to over bank flooding or floodplain locations.
When an area is laid out for development, strips along the lot lines are set aside to carry water. Usually a five or ten foot easement is established. When the lot is built on, there should be no construction in the easement.