Preparing for Flood Potential

Flooding has many faces, all of them potentially menacing to business property owners. Flash flooding strikes local areas randomly. A major windstorm dumps a record rainfall on a coastal area within a few hours. Mountain snow melts and fans out as a sheet flood moving across a plain. Saturated areas with porous soils below flood levels can trigger landslides, mudslides or massive silt flows during flooding - flows that topple buildings and shift foundations. Intense rain isn't the only cause of flooding. Ice jams can dam a river, causing it to spill its banks like an overflowing bathtub. Long after rains have subsided, rivers clogged with ice or debris can continue to rise. Flooding can strike any time, leaving behind water damage and a muddy residue that can render sensitive equipment—and your facility—inoperable, threatening the existence of your business. A flood emergency-response plan created with teamwork and regularly updated and tested can be a powerful tool to preventing flood losses. A flood emergency-response plan is a step-by-step plan for all potential flood scenarios, providing specific responses for each one. It also provides procedures for:

• monitoring weather forecasting
• working with local emergency-management agencies to integrate plans
• checking and testing flood doors and barriers and other temporary, flood-related protection equipment
• moving critical equipment to safe areas, i.e., higher ground
• anchoring any item that cannot be elevated or moved to higher ground
• checking all access roads for alternate routes for employees and materials
• deciding work hours and number of personnel needed
• accessing names, addressed, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of vendors supplying business operations and salvage services
• obtaining supplies for pre-flood preparation and post-flood recovery: pumps, generators, sandbags, tarpaulins, cleaning supplies, first aid kits
• prioritising salvage and cleanup activities

The plan also details the training program for the emergency-response teams. Training includes instruction about all exposures and requires employees to be completely familiar with the flood plan. Train them (with drills) to respond to all emergency scenarios identified in your plan. Training will enable them to:

• recognise signs of change or deterioration on the property that could affect flood potential
• know how and where to install flood doors, flood logs, flood windows and essential barriers
• know the sequence in which water may enter your facility and arrange your flood-fighting efforts in a similar sequence to stop the entry of water
• provide proper means to elevate property or move it to higher ground

Insurance cannot restore power or access to your property. It cannot bring back customers or valuable personnel. Understand flood potentials accurately. Invest in an engineering analysis. Keep the flood emergency-response plan updated. Train personnel. Flood exposures rarely go away by themselves. Are your prepared?

For further assistance, see FM Global's Flood Checklist or ask your Affiliated FM Engineer.