How to Prepare Your Business for a Flood

11/20/2021 (Permalink)

Stock up on emergency supplies.

How to Prepare Your Business for a Flood

When a flood warning sounds, it's too late to begin protecting your business from flooding. You need to prepare long before storms and heavy rains move your way. Use the following tips to keep your Georgetown, TX, business, employees, and clients safe.

Reach Out to Local and National Resources

If your business is situated in an area prone to floods, it's a good idea to talk to your insurance company about coverage for this eventuality. You'll feel much better about your outlook when storms do hit. The insurance company may provide advice about the best strategies to protect your property and belongings. Other resources could include:

• The federal government website on floods and prevention
  
• Local flood remediation companies
  
• Professional surveyors and architects in Georgetown, TX
  
  

Create a Flood Safety Plan

This plan should include an evacuation route, a protocol for protecting business equipment and inventory, and a communication plan that goes into place as soon as flooding becomes a concern. After working out the details of the plan, train your staff on how to respond and run annual evacuation drills. Don't forget to address the dangers of black water and power outages.

Identify Specific Areas of Danger

You may have a lot of equipment in your building that runs on electricity. As the water rises, those machines could pose an increased risk of danger as well as costing a pretty penny to replace. If there's time to turn off your copiers, computers, and other electronics; and carry those items up to higher levels of the building. When outlets go under the water, there could be an electricity risk. If you have gas heating, that system could also pose a safety risk.

Stock Up on Emergency Supplies

Businesses in communities that are often affected by flooding may want to have plenty of sandbags on hand. Other supplies, such as flashlights and battery-powered radios, should also be kept in a central position that can be accessed easily when warnings are given.