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Snow melt and rain causing flooded basements and leaky windows

The wet aftermath of the snow is here, and people are not happy.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — It's on rainy days like this that you feel like putting your entire house into a dryer and letting it spin.

Nathan Larsen felt that way this morning when he walked into his basement this morning.

"Luckily, my wife wanted me to wash the sheets," Larsen said. "Or else, I wouldn't have known what to do. We would have not known about it."

Larsen said he came down to see a thin layer of water on his basement floor. 

"I got the shop vac out of the garage-- which we purchased a few years ago--which was so worth it," Larsen said. "Brought it downstairs and started sucking up the water."

The melting snow and the additional rain coming in through his basement windows seems to blame. From social media posts, it was clear that Larsen wasn't alone. Many people shared with KARE 11 the terrors of waking up to realize that their basement had water in it. Some say they noticed it yesterday evening when they came home.

At this point, what can you do? If you need to take it to the next level and hire a professional, the Better Business Bureau says there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Don't touch anything or change anything before a contractor comes.

2. Get multiple estimates

3. Get everything documented and in writing before having someone start a job.

As for looking to the future, the BBB says watch for mold and consider getting flood insurance. 

Unfortunately for Larsen, it's too late for that. However, he handles all of it with a calm demeanor. It's his first time dealing with something like this at his Eden Prairie home, home alone with a child on paternity-leave. However, he doesn't let it bother him.

"You just gotta roll with the punches," Larsen said. "Can't get stressed about it because it's not going to help is it?"

The BBB also recommends double-checking your contractor's licensing and proof of liability before agreeing to get something done. 

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