snake in my basement

Question
I am in the process of renting a home that has been empty since January.Today I found a snake in my basement.The police officer got rid of it he says it was an eastern milk snake.I have a 4 year old daughter and i am afraid of snakes do you think I have a snake problem and what can I do to prevent any more?? No eggs or shedding to be seen any where else in the basement.Please help I am petrified of snakes.

Answer
Sue, how do you feel about dogs?  4.5 Million(!!!) dog bites are treated in the U.S. each year, yet they are considered mans best friend...  People love horses, yet they kill more people each year than any other domesticated animal in the U.S.  Snakes rarely kill anyone anymore in the U.S. The odds of seeing any snake much less a venomous one these days are low.  

Learn about the venomous snakes in your area and simply avoid any snakes you see.  They really want nothing to do w/ you or any other human for that matter AND they do play a VERY important role in the environment.  The snake may have entered your basement to feed on rodents located there.  Keep the area free of rodents and snakes will have no reason to be in your basement.  BTW mice can pass on a certain pathogen called the Hanta virus which is VERY deadly to humans.  Snakes eat mice!  See snakes are good!