With over 40% of the population of the US located near the coast and upwards of 80% near a sizable body of water and experiencing more drastic weather conditions than ever before, no matter where you live, your business may suffer from the potential danger of flooding. So, what can you do in the event of a failed levy, massive storm, or flash floods? Join us below as we break down the essentials of preparing your business to weather the potential of flooding.
Have An Emergency Plan In Place to Protect Your Business From Flooding
Your business won’t matter if you aren’t there to run it after the storm. Therefore, it’s vital to ensure that you have an emergency plan in place to protect yourself and your loved ones. Follow any news updates on potential storms or flooding events and evacuate when the order is given. Please don’t waste time trying to protect the little things; collect all your essential documents or place them within a watertight safe and ensure you have a place to evacuate, be it a distant hotel, friend or family member’s home, or an evacuation center. Finally, prepare an emergency kit and keep it somewhere that is easy to access. Some things we recommend having in such a kit include the following:
- Three days’ worth of water and non-perishable food per person
- Radio
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Toiletries, don’t forget the toilet paper
- First aid kit
- Any specialized medical supplies you require
Once you have your emergency plan, it is time to start preparing your business for potential flooding.
Get Flood Insurance
It may be too late to invest in flood insurance when the storm is battering on your windows. Therefore, contacting an agent and shopping around for flood insurance is essential, especially if you are on or near the coast like over 40% of the US population. While you may not see a return on investment immediately, flood insurance can save you thousands and allow your business to bounce back quickly after a potential flood. The following are a few steps to take before a flood to ensure you get the maximum payout from your flood insurance:
- Take extensive inventory of business property and items that can be potentially damaged.
- Photograph everything, note its condition, and if you own the building, have it inspected.
- Back up all electronic storage and relocate all electronics to higher areas, or take what you can with you.
Consider An Inflatable Cofferdam from Dam-It-Dams
Inflatable cofferdams can protect your property in the event of a storm and are the perfect tool to mitigate or remove the potential of flooding damage. With a quick and easy setup time and the ability to cover vast tracks of riverbanks or land, an inflatable cofferdam is the perfect tool to protect your property from potential flood damage. What’s more, the cofferdams from Dam-It-Dams can defend against thousands of pounds of water pressure at depths of ten feet or more, all with puncture-resistant material designed to weather almost any storm.
What To Do During The Flood
- Contact your employees for temporary office procedures and hours.
- Communicate to customers your status of operations, how they can reach you, and your temporary location.
- Follow evacuation orders and collect all documents in a water-safe container or bring them with you.
- Contact vendors, post offices, and other delivery services to inform them of your location or stop delivery services temporarily.
- Shut off utilities.
Call Dam-It-Dams For A Flood Risk Prevention Consultation
Call us today at 810-695-1695 for a free consultation and learn more about the many benefits of inflatable cofferdams from our regularly updated blog.