"Smarty" writes:
I am wondering if a sump pump installed in a damp basement should be
connected to a GFCI, or if this may cause the circuit to fail when it is
needed most, in bad flooding.

A GFCI shouldn't trip until there's current leakage to ground. This
shouldn't happen until the sump pump motor is flooded (if it's an
open-motor unit) or until the outlet it's plugged into is flooded (if
the sump pump is sealed). That's *bad* flooding, as long as the outlet
is installed a reasonable distance above the floor.

Dave