Protect Your Commercial Property From Flood Damage

Regardless of where you stand on climate change, it’s hard to ignore the extreme weather that has affected–and for some even devastated–various regions of the United States. Recent rainfall amounts are reaching record numbers for 2018, and the result is widespread flooding to not only homes but also commercial buildings and their businesses.When flooding occurs, so often the focus is on those residents who are displaced from their homes and the damage done to the properties. But, many commercial buildings-based businesses suffer just as much, even if their hardships don’t make headlines. In addition to property damage and the possibility of displaced employees, businesses undergo loss of profits and revenue, inventory damage, decrease in production, and the list goes on. Even if the flooding doesn’t affect a commercial property directly, indirectly the rising waters can negatively affect its business’ supply chain, distribution, and utility availability. One flood runs the risk of shutting down a business for good. 

Flood Damage Protection Tips

Rain will fall as it will, which means there’s little you can do to keep your commercial building and the business within high and dry. Still that doesn’t mean you need to leave fate in the hands of Mother Nature. Follow these steps to help safeguard your commercial building and its tenants from flood and flood-related losses.

1. Get covered. 

   

   Typically commercial property insurance does not provide protection against floods and flood damage. Evaluate your commercial building insurance coverage and consider adding flood insurance, available through the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program.

2. Assess your situation.

   Commercial building in low-lying areas or flood plains may be at higher flood risk than those set high atop a hill. But location aside, all commercial properties possess their own vulnerabilities. Understand and address the risks of your building to shield against floods.

3. Waterproof.

   Flood waters don’t have to reach record numbers to negatively affect your commercial property. Even small amounts of water breaching the interior can lead to damage. Limit the destruction by sealing cracks and weaknesses, and adding a layer of waterproofing material to your commercial structure.

4. Make a plan. 

   

   Flash flooding can happen in, well, a flash. To best protect your commercial property, as well as the tenants and possessions within, be sure to put an emergency action plan into place. Included in such a plan should be:

   • Evacuation routes
   • Emergency kit with instructions
   • Offsite backup plan for critical documents, data, and contact information
   • Emergency procedures

5. Always be ready.

   Minimizing potential water damage to your commercial building may just start with routine maintenance. Ensure that gutters and drains are clean and clear, and that sump pumps are in proper working order. Take steps to move valuable business items off floors if under a storm watch or warning. Only attempt this if personal safety isn’t at risk. Also, be sure to disconnect electrical equipment, including appliances and computers.

The better prepared your commercial building is for an impending flood, the more control you might have to prevent water damage. But even the best measures don’t always protect your company completely. Our restoration and remediation specialists are here to respond to the aftermath and return your property to pre-loss conditions.   

Code Red Immediate Response

A&J Property Restoration provides commercial customers with assistance creating a disaster plan to meet their company needs.  Protect your businesses and commercial buildings from damage by water or fire damage by signing up for our Code Red Disaster Planning Program.  We provide emergency disaster restoration services in Madison, Sun Prairie,  Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Fort Atkinson, and surrounding Dane County areas.

Contact us 24/7 at 800-727-8990.