What area of the house is this in? The trap for the drain is probably dry and needs some water poured into it. I'd be wary of blocking off a drain if I didn't know what the plumbing layout is.

B&B Contracting what if he is no where near Houston?

Thx guys i live on a hill in Mission BC Canada. There is no real worry about flooding feom exterior causes . The property is sloped . Ill try some water first to see if that helps

I filled in a non-functional utility room floor drain by shoving a rubber ball down it as an extra seal and then filling it with self-leveling compound.