FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) states that almost 40% of small businesses don’t reopen after a flood hits their business. Owners complain that recovery is expensive since most don’t have flood insurance. As you know, standard commercial insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by flooding.
Why You Should Purchase Commercial Flood Insurance
Weather is unpredictable, and it’s vital to protect your livelihood. Getting commercial flood insurance saves you from flood cleanup, restoration, and reopening costs. It is more necessary if your business’s building is located in a region prone to hurricanes or near rivers that can overflow during heavy rains.
Also, remember that your business doesn’t need to be in a high-risk flood area to suffer flood damage. Though it’s more expensive, it’s always best to get a package covering the building and its contents. Go to this page to learn more about the process of water damage and mold removal services.
Preparing Your Small Business from Flood Damage
1. Identify the Flood Risks of Your Business’s Location
If you haven’t done this before opening your business, check FEMA’s maps that show an updated list of flooding risks based on topography. If you just moved your business to a new location, be sure to understand flood risks in the area.
If your building is located on a lower level or has a basement, water possibly pools and seeps through the walls when the ground surrounding your property gets saturated. Consider these following actions to reduce water damage:
- Seal water entry points
- Extend downspouts
- Regrade the landscape around your business so that water flows away from the building.
- Apply waterproof sealants to crack the floor, foundation, and framing joints.
- Install a drainage system and waterproof membrane around the perimeter’s foundation.
2. Write an Emergency Plan
Flooding usually occurs at short notice, so it’s critical to have an emergency plan at hand during this stressful event. Your plan should include:
- Contact numbers for energy providers, electricians, local government units, restoration companies you trust (such as PuroClean), and other relevant helplines
- A list of prompt actions you can take if evacuation is necessary, like alerting staff and moving stocks
- Key locations for electricity or gas services cut-off points
3. Create a Flood Continuity Plan
These are things you can do to reduce the damage due to flooding, which are important to keep your business running as normal.
- Regularly back up your data and files
- Move essential business equipment, inventories, and files to a higher level
- Move electrical sockets and wiring higher
- Install non-return valves in your sewer pipes to prevent sewage backflow during the flooding.
- Install a battery-powered sump pump to avoid minor floods or seeping groundwater
- Anchor your fuel tanks since unsecured tanks may float away and release fuel in the floodwater.
- Install floorboards in your doorways and other openings to prevent water from entering through the gaps.
- Be sure to have an emergency fund to pay your employees.
4. Train Your Employees
Your staff should know the flood warning alarm, as well as the things to do when it goes off. Educate them on the dangers of flooding and how to evacuate the building safely.
After the Flood
If your small business is insured, it will not be hard to reopen after the disaster. Your insurance company will send a professional to inspect the site and evaluate the severity of the damage after filing claims. For the cleanup, restoration, and repairs, you need a water damage company to make an estimate. The more information about the damage you can provide, the faster they settle your claims.
It’s also important to choose a reputable restoration company near you that can arrive immediately. Contact PuroClean if you need water damage restoration Lincolnia area.