Emergency Response Hotline 888.327.9664
Mother nature can get destructive at times and preparing for the storms can be all that we can do. As many homes and businesses brace against major storms, one of the most forgotten but common defenses is flood protection.
Water damage can be disastrous and in a major flood can feel inevitable. There are ways to protect your business, but you need a plan.
Here we have 5 major tips to ensuring that you recover from floods as fast as possible.
When any threat to your business presents itself, you need to have a plan for dealing with it. In the case of flooding, you must build a disaster plan that details where you are in danger and how to stop it.
First, locate where you may be vulnerable to flooding. If your building has a ground floor, what is your elevation compared to the street? What areas have parts of your building have easy access for floodwaters to enter?
If you have a higher position building, like on a hill or such, you can save a good deal of time and money on flood protection. Even a slight incline over the surrounding street can help in minor floods.
The areas that can be the most vulnerable to flooding are often access points like doors or windows. These will be your focus when creating flood defenses.
There are two major ways to fight against potential flood services. They can work together, but most businesses tend to focus on one. They are dry floodproofing and wet floodproofing.
Dry floodproofing is creating barricades and sealants to keep the water out of your business. These can be great as long as they remain strong and secure.
Placing barricades around the most vulnerable of entrances is your main goal. Sandbags can do well in an emergency.
The other route is to build up walls, walkways, and the surrounding area so that when the water rises, your defenses direct it away from the building.
The other method is wet floodproofing. It involves directing the water into the building at certain angles and areas that will take little to no damage. This often works with a drain or rapid response cleanup to ensure the water does not stay.
The method requires a misdirection system that takes oncoming water and guides it elsewhere. Often the place you guide it too has nothing that takes easy water damage and you can clean in a fast manner.
Most wet floodproofing areas are not carpeted and out of the way, allowing for business to go back to normal as soon as possible.
More often than not, the worst can happen. You need to prepare for this too. When your defenses break and your business gets flooded, make sure the most vital pieces are safe.
Electronics are in the most danger in a flood. Documents are too, but these days, most are on electronic servers.
Keep your server rooms in a central location and sealed tight. This ensures that floodwaters reach them last, giving you time to intervene.
If your computer uses a lot of computers in a flood heavy area, put the computer rooms on the upper floors. You can also get sealed cases for your computers or at least elevate them.
Before the worst happens, make sure you have your insurance together. Contact your insurance agent to double-check your flood protection as a major storm approaches.
Do not wait until after the fact to see if your insurance will cover you.
With a bit of ingenuity, preparation, and a plan in mind, your flood protection can save you thousands of dollars. No plan is perfect, though, and water damage of some sort may be inevitable.
When the worst happens, you need someone you trust to guide you out of the damage. That is where we at Unlimited Restoration, Inc. come in! Contact us today to see how we can help you get back on your feet.
