Flooding is a risk no matter where your business is. This checklist of preventive actions can help protect your business, property and employees from the devastating effects of flooding.
If a flood strikes your business, you could lose data, inventory, equipment, technology and other assets. Your building could be destroyed or severely damaged. Depending on how long it takes you to get back up and running, you could also lose income while you’re closed.
Use this checklist to prevent floods from destroying your business:
- Perform a risk assessment. Understanding the risks flooding poses for your business will help you decide what to do. Examine assets that might be at risk of damage. Analyze the impact of water on essential equipment, warehouses or inventory. And consider the possibility that your employees won’t be able to reach the office.
- Create a business continuity plan. Once you’ve identified the key risks facing your business, take steps to protect against them. Develop written procedures on how to respond when flooding occurs or is expected. If possible, have a backup workspace lined up. This can help you keep your doors open during a flood.
- Obtain flood insurance. Basic commercial property insurance doesn’t usually cover floods, so look into getting coverage through the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Coverage may also be available from private insurance companies, depending on your location, building and business characteristics, and property value. The NFIP makes flood insurance available to commercial owners and renters. As with residential property, the cost varies depending on how much coverage you purchase and your property’s flood risks.
- Train employees on flood safety procedures. Employees who have been properly trained can respond quickly in a flood. This helps them protect themselves and mitigate damage to your business. A response exercise, like a fire drill, can help you determine if your plan is adequate and your employees are properly trained.
- Have sandbags available. Sandbags are an effective way to keep water out. If you have space to store preassembled sandbags, you should. If you have sandbags on site, you’ll be able to defend your property quickly in a flash flood. These can develop within minutes.
- Keep gutters clear of dirt and debris. Gutters don’t work as they’re meant to when they’re clogged with leaves, twigs and sludge. Clean gutters and downspouts regularly.
- Install water-resistant barriers. Metal barriers and aqua-barrier water-inflated dams can help shield your business from water.
- Seal off your structure. Cracks in walls, windows, floors and foundations let water enter. Apply waterproofing sealant as needed.
- Move equipment and vehicles. Remove critical equipment or move it to higher floors of the building. If you can, move fleet vehicles to higher ground.
- Purchase portable pumps and generators. These will help you begin recovery efforts as soon as your building is deemed safe to reenter.
- Prepare for pollution. If you store fuel or chemicals at your business, keep the correct spill kits on hand to limit environmental damage and health risks.
- Protect business-critical information. Keep backup copies of important documents off site, ideally in cloud storage.
The best time to flood-proof your business is long before a storm. Because most standard commercial insurance policies do not cover flood damage, talk to your insurance professional to ensure you have adequate coverage.
Call us for more information
We’re happy to help you in the case of a disaster, reach out to our Business Insurance team.
This content is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing professional, financial, medical or legal advice. You should contact your licensed professional to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Please refer to your policy contract for any specific information or questions on applicability of coverage.
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