The Met Office has issued more severe weather warnings this month, as parts of Britain are urged to prepare for yet more torrential rain. More than 40 flood warnings have been in put in place since the start of the new year, especially around the South-West of England and South Wales area. So as the horrid weather continues and areas are told to brace for 30-40mm of rainfall, it is vitally important that commercial properties within affected areas are prepared for potential flooding.
Across the festive period last year, AA insurance alone dealt with over 1000 storm and flood claims as a direct consequence of the adverse weather conditions. This highlights how much of a serious issue flooding is; if you own a business within an area of high flood risk, this is not an issue to take lightly.
Flooding is More Likely Than you Think!
Commercial properties are statistically more likely to be flooded than they are to experience a fire; so it is important businesses place as much emphasis on flood safety as they do fire safety. If your property has already experienced a flood it is vital that you see to the problem as soon as possible. The longer you leave your building exposed to flood water, the weaker it becomes and the more problems you will encounter later on. This is especially true if your building is made from wood as it will expand when wet and begin to decay. Correctly drying a flooded building will reduce secondary damage and help to eliminate any fungal growth throughout.
Prepare Properly
It is not possible to make a building completely flood proof, but accurate preparation can at least protect your staff members from harm and reduce the amount of damage caused to your building. Preparing properly in the event of a flood can also limit the amount of disruption caused to your business activities; allowing you to keep things in good working order. Here are some quick tips to keep flood water out of your property:
- Placing sandbags beneath doorways and entrances around your property can help prevent surface water entering your building. You can pick these up from your local builders’ yard.
- Install flood-proof windows and doors that allow you to raise the threshold, keeping flood water at bay.
- Applying exterior wall sealant to your exterior walls can prevent long term damage to your fixtures during a flood.
- Flood proof air bricks will close automatically in the presence of water, preventing any liquid from entering the building.
- Fit non-return valves in your property’s drains and pipes to prevent wastewater from coming back up into the building.
- If you are in an area of particularly high flood risk, installing a pump in your basement will be a wise investment. If you are unlucky enough to experience a flood then an industrial pump will help to remove the water quickly.
A Job for the Professionals
Flood damage is a serious matter and can cause detrimental disruption to the day-to-day running of your business. It is extremely important that, if you do experience a flood, your building is thoroughly cleaned for the health of both your structure and your members of staff. In the event of a serious flood it is highly recommended you call in a specialist cleaning team to deal with the issue. Contact us for more information on flood damage and restoration work.
