And a big problem that many Hurricane Irene victims are finding out is that their insurance doesn't cover damage after sump pumps stop working thanks to a power outage.

"The existing generator only supported limited emergency needs, such as sump pumps and furnaces during the outage," said Christina Collison, Clarendon Hills' management analyst.

The system can properly control those pumps to drain the water out by checking water level of sump and other parameters on real time.