ACS

With climate change likely to increase the risk of extreme weather events and floods, the Environment Agency is advising all businesses to take some simple steps to prepare for flooding.

Small businesses are more at risk from flooding than fire - and the effects can be 30 times as costly as burglary - yet many businesses still do not have any measures in place to protect their property or staff from flooding. Last summer alone, nearly 7,000 businesses flooded, with the total damage to businesses estimated at around £1.3bn - many of these had never flooded before.

The first step businesses should take is to find out whether their premises are in an area at risk of river or coastal flooding by using the Environment Agency’s free online postcode checker. Those who are at risk can register for the free Floodline Warnings Direct service that provides flood warnings by telephone, mobile, e-mail, fax or pager whenever a flood warning is issued in the area.

The Environment Agency also encourages all businesses to use its straightforward template to develop a flood plan, as those not at risk of river or coastal flooding can still be affected by surface water flooding in cases where drainage systems are unable to deal with intense rainfall. The plan should include a list of important contacts, a map showing key equipment, protective materials and service shut-off points, and basic strategies to protect property, ensure staff safety and minimise business disruption if a flood occurs.

Questions businesses should ask themselves include:

• Does my insurance policy cover all types of flooding?

• Do we understand the different flood warning codes and what they mean in practice?

• Are our staff familiar with flood safety procedures?

• Do we all know how to shut off gas, electric and water supplies?

• Can we store valuable equipment and stock above flood level or take other protective action?

• Are there any flood protection products we should be using?

Environment Agency Chief Executive Barbara Young said: "We know that small businesses have limited time and resources but with climate change putting increasing numbers of businesses at risk of flooding, investing some time in preparation now could really pay dividends in the future. By checking their flood risk and following our simple preparation guide, businesses can cut the cost of damage by as much as 90% and make sure they are protecting their staff and premises."

For further information about how to prepare for flooding and to find out if your business is at risk please visit http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188.