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Small & Medium Businesses
Advice
Keep your business up and running
If the worst should happen and floods strike here are some useful tips to help.
- Minimise the immediate damage. First, by preventing the situation from getting worse – for instance, using sandbags to keep out floodwater
- Keep your insurers informed
- Keep your staff informed. They may fear the worst and start looking for another job. So you need to explain what is happening in detail, and get them back to work as soon as possible. This means working out a contact system which passes the initial news and regular updates down a defined line. Also, work out which people or departments are needed immediately, and which can be stood down for a few days
- Keep suppliers informed. They will need to know whether deliveries should be postponed or diverted; they will also want to know whether you will be able to pay them on time
- Keep customers informed. They will want to know whether you can deliver their orders, and if so, when
- Keep your bank informed. You may also need to organise or reschedule loans
Immediate Action
If your business has been affected by flooding consider the following;
- Try and salvage as much as possible, as long as it is safe to do so move valuables, to the highest position (first floors or higher)
- Seal important documents, purchase receipts, instruction manuals, proof of ownership documents such as photographs in plastic bags – all of which will help to speed up any insurance claims you are planning
- Keep your insurance documents somewhere safe along with a list of useful phone numbers such as your insurance company, Floodline, your local council and the emergency services
- Gather together a few essentials including a torch, a mobile phone, a first aid kit, a radio so you can keep up to date with local news bulletins, suitable footwear, rubber gloves, disinfectant, towels and bottled water for you and your staff
- Contact your insurer. They will be able to offer you immediate advice on what to do and talk you through next steps