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Taking simple steps can go a long way to protect your business from flooding. Preparing in advance will make it easier to respond to and recover from a flood.听听

Your business should have a flood plan. Keep it in a safe and accessible place, away from potential flood water.听

Read our personal flood plan advice for core steps to take to stay safe in a flood.

1. Before a flood听

Actions you can take to protect your business include:听

• check your insurance covers you for flood damage, business interruption and lost revenue听
• adapt your business to the risk of flooding听
• check that your flood prevention products or flood warning systems function properly听听
• use your existing maintenance procedures as an opportunity to reduce your flood risk听
• include potential impacts of a flood on staff in your health and safety assessments听
• agree flood contingency plans with suppliers and customers and contract management听
• plan for preventing business disruption and assisting recovery (known as business continuity)听

2. Business flood plan checklist听

Here are examples of information you could include in your plan:听

• trigger points for action that make the most sense for your plan, for example water in the car park听听
• what should happen at these trigger points and what might change if the flood gets worse听
• security procedures you might need to activate during a flood听听
• a description or map of emergency routes and evacuation points听听
• shut off points for gas, electricity and water, and details of any emergency power source听
• details of items that may need special protective measures, for example hazardous or refrigerated materials, and what to do with them听

For your data and information:听

• safe storage of data and information, for example customer and staff records听
• moving important documents to a location where they won鈥檛 be damaged by flood water听

For your people:听

• emergency contact information, including out of normal hours听
• a note of staff who may need assistance when flooding happens听
• details of where a first aid kit, safety equipment or medical supplies are located听
• details of actions for your staff to take and the training they may need to carry out these roles and responsibilities听

Make a person, or group of people, responsible for managing a flood emergency, including:听

• carrying out your flood plan听
• making decisions听
• contacting relevant people on and off site听
• speaking with public authorities听
• managing other staff听

You should make a list of important contacts, including:听

• building services听
• utilities听
• suppliers听听
• evacuation contacts for staff听

These organisations may be able to help with:听听

• installing flood protection products听
• moving stock and important items to safe locations听
• emergency storage听
• emergency supplies听
• medical support听

Others who can help might include:听

• local business and community networks听
• chambers of commerce听
• your local council听

Make sure you know what you must do under relevant regulations and legislation, including:听

• health and safety听
• liability听
• environmental management听
• financial management听

3. Immediately before a flood听

If flooding is about to happen, check your staff:听

• are safe听听
• know what to do in a flood听
• know their role and responsibilities听
• know how to communicate in an emergency听

4. When a flood happens听

Follow your flood plan. You can also follow advice in:听

• personal flood plan
• what to do before or during a flood听

5. After a flood听

Follow your flood plan. You can also follow advice in:听

• personal flood plan
• what to do after a flood听

6. Campsites and caravan parks听

We have specific guidance for managing the flood risk of your campsite or caravan park.