DAMAGE MANAGEMENT


WATER TIGHT SOLUTION


Floods are always a threat whenever there is inclement weather, and although you never know when a flood might hit, the advice of Angus Dodds, Head of Restoration Services with ServiceMaster, is to prepare, prepare, prepare.


Bad weather and flooding go hand in hand. We can no longer rely on the seasons; climate change and temperature fluctuation means there doesn’t seem to be a time of the year where we can escape the threat of flooding.


If we close our eyes we can all relive emotive video footage of people whose lives have been unexpectedly turned upside down following a surge in water levels; it is an ill wind that blows in the rains that cause such turmoil.


“The UK Government


has recently announced £12.5million is being invested into new


temporary defences, with four times more


temporary flood barriers in place than last year.”


For those people that also have businesses in flooded areas, it can be doubly traumatic; business premises devastated along with their home, family matters to manage alongside the need to continue trading, with the likelihood that staff have similar issues to contend with.


According the ABI, 15-16,000 properties were affected by the floods of late 2015/early 2016, with a claims bill reaching nearly £5billion.


So what is to blame? Climate change? Poor Local Authority planning? The desperate need for new homes no matter where? Whatever the reason, there are some good initiatives coming


36 | Tomorrow’s Cleaning


through, both nationally and locally that will help to protect and provide support to those affected by flooding.


Nationally for some individuals, the FloodRe scheme is a positive step forward for accessing affordable insurance and the UK Government has recently announced £12.5million is being invested into new temporary defences, with four times more temporary flood barriers in place than last year.


At a local level, the Watermark Calderdale scheme is raising money to ensure there is access to sufficient funding for local businesses and households if and when future flooding hits. There are a number of other local schemes in place to help homeowners and businesses in flood risk areas and it is highly advisable to access these schemes early on.


Here at ServiceMaster, our network of trained flood and fire restoration experts have been involved in flood restoration for decades. We’ve mobilised scores of our signature yellow vans to work across the length and breadth of the country and the most notable thing we’ve found is that so many are unprepared for the worst.


Over the years the insurance industry has provided figures on the percentage of businesses that never recover from a major business interruption event. The message is clear – ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’ – and when your business is your livelihood you must plan ahead.


In general, businesses will have fire alarms and sprinkler systems but flood or water damage is rarely


considered. Business owners should incorporate flooding in the wider context of a ‘Business Continuity Plan’ (BCP), which should also include fire and other unforeseen events.


The Environment Agency state that by preparing in advance for flooding, most businesses can save up to 90% of the cost of lost stock and moveable equipment.


Our advice is simple, prepare your business for a flood; create a BCP that is understandable and practical and ensure that everyone in your business is familiar with the plan. It will be the document that helps you steer through your predicament. You’ll need to access it quickly in an emergency, 24/7, 365 days a year, whether you are inside or outside of your business premises; you just don’t know when a flood might hit.


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