Avoiding Weather Damage
Beat the Weather
Extreme weather combined with the unpredictability of the British summer means flooding could happen at any time of the year. See our tips for fighting flood risks all year round.
Around 185,000 commercial properties are at risk of flood in England and Wales*
*Environment Agency
BE PREPARED
- Risk assess your workplace for how it might cope during a flood
- Write a detailed flood plan and get property insurance
- Sign up for weather warnings at Floodline and the Environment Agency
Summer 2007 was one of the wettest on record (Met Office). Heavy rainfall from May to July caused widespread flooding and destruction across whole regions of the UK.
As a result of the 2007 summer floods, insurers paid businesses over £1bn*
*Association of British Insurers
STAY SAFE
- Move valuable stock and equipment off the floor or upstairs
- Put plastic sheeting and sandbags at the entrance to your premises
- Stay away from downed power lines and evacuate your workplace
3,100 business flood claims were recorded in the UK between Dec 2013 and Feb 2014 and the value of claims totaled £149m*
*Association of British Insurers
WHAT NEXT?
- Contact your insurer straight away for help and to make a claim
- Only go back to your workplace once authorities have said it's safe
- Get a qualified electrician to check your electrical systems and equipment
TRAVELERS
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You've proved yourself invincible in many ways, true, but no one can control the weather. Floods can happen at any time. Remember those major summer floods back in 2007? They came out of nowhere and caused widespread destruction.
There's no need to panic and sit around waiting for the storm though. Fight the floods and keep doing your thing (wellies not included).
Other things to consider before a flood
- Remember, you might be liable for accidents that happen so make sure you write a risk assessment plan for how employees might be affected by a flood at work.
- If you think flooding is on the way, wrap heavy plastic bags around wooden furniture legs to minimise absorption.
- If you’ve had a flood warning and you’re a tenant, keep in regular contact with your landlord.
If your business is affected by a flood
- Water might be contaminated so, if you have to go to your premises, wear protective clothing and make sure any cuts are covered up.
- When waters subside, check if your electricity/water/gas are still working. If they are, turn them off at the mains if it’s safe to do so.
- If your utilities aren’t working, contact your supplier to find out when they’ll be fixed.
- Protect your property from further damage by getting rid of any flood water that might be hidden – say in ground-floor cupboards or under stairs.
- When safe, take photos of damage to your property as this will help when it comes to making a claim.
- If you have perishable stock, dispose of it but make a record of it and take photos first.
- Let your key customers know what’s happened, and let them know what you can do in the meantime.
Remember, call us as soon as you can so we can help you get a claim underway.
