Developing a Flood Plan for Your Business
Flooding can cause a lot of damage to businesses. That is why you should ensure you have a robust flood plan in place for your business premises.
There are several steps you can take to ensure that your business is unaffected during a flood.
First, find out if your business is at risk in the event of a flood. Find out if you are at risk of flooding in England or Wales and in Scotland.
If your business premises are at risk, you should ensure that you will be contacted when a flood is likely to occur. Signing up for the Floodline Warnings Direct service will ensure you will be contacted with flood warnings.
Of course, flooding can happen at any time. You should ensure that you can be contacted at any time, and not just during office hours.
If a flood does happen, this can cause extensive damage to stock and equipment. You should ensure you have comprehensive insurance to help your business get back on its feet after a flood.
Protecting against flooding can also help your business.
We recommend that you have a stockpile of hydrosacks or sandbags, which can help in the event of a flood. These can block flood water, which can dramatically reduce the damage caused.
Staff training is a vital part of your flood plan. Staff should be trained in what to do in the event of a flood, similar to training for a fire drill. After all, your business premises are much more likely to flood than to burn down.
Everyone should be taught how to turn off the gas, water and electricity supplies and, if needed, to quickly move stock to a higher level. In fact, stock and equipment should routinely be stored above flood level.
You should also ensure that staff know the phone numbers needed in the event of a flood, such as contacts at the local authority, insurance companies and emergency contacts.
At least one member of staff should also be trained in first aid. Whether there is a flood or not, a first aider will be able to help with any minor accidents.
Following these few simple steps will help ensure that your business is prepared for a flood and can get back to work as quickly as possible.
For more help and advice with preparing your flood plan for your business you might like to visit:
GOV.UK – Prepare a flood plan for your business
Floodline Scotland
National Flood Forum
Scottish Flood Forum