Things to Do Before Wet Season to Avoid Commercial Flooding

Spring and Summer are rainy seasons, meaning there’s a possibility of water getting into your commercial building. To avoid water from natural disasters wreaking havoc on your property, it’s good to be prepared. Preparedness can mean doing things to prevent flooding and also to make sure you are covered if a flood happens. Follow these tips to ensure your building is safeguarded for either situation.

• Make your building watertight. Add a flood shield on each of your building’s doors windows and vents to prevent water from getting through if it ever floods. Also, build watertight walls around all of your equipment, including plumbing, elevators, escalators, and HVAC systems. Check your building’s foundation and waterproof it. Water can sneak into your basement through cracks, gaps, and chips in the walls and foundation, as well as improperly sealed or installed window wells. Repair these to prevent future foundation damage and keep water outside.
• Double check valve back-flow preventers. Make sure your valve back-flow preventers are working properly by checking them regularly. If you don’t have back-flow valves, install them at vulnerable points where utility and sewer lines meet your building. This stops flood water from entering your building. This is especially important when the flooding is coming from a backup or break in a sewage line.
• Always have a plan B for water damage. Just in case your first defenses fail to keep the water out, make sure you have portable flood pumps, backup power generators, and battery-operated emergency lighting located in a high place, above your potential flood line.
• Have an emergency communication plan in place. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires any business with more than 10 employees to have an emergency plan in place. Emergency preparedness is the best way to put your employees’ health, safety, and wellness concerns at ease. Establishing an emergency communication plan protects your business and ensures people act calmly and rationally during times of crisis. Integrate your emergency preparedness plan into your businesses practices, have concrete systems in place for employees with proper guidelines, tools, equipment, and education.
• Make an emergency kit. Creating your own emergency kit is an essential part of planning for a natural disaster like flooding. Each kit should have at least one gallon of water per person and enough food for each person for three days. A battery-powered radio, toolkit, extra batteries, emergency cell phone, first aid kit, blankets, and whistles should all be included in the kit. Each kit should be placed in your safety zones, preferably in easily-accessible windowless rooms.
• Make sure you have commercial flood insurance.Check with your insurance company to see if you’re covered for flood damage, business interruption, and lost revenue. Closing your business because of water damage and severe weather therefore can be detrimental to your bottom line. Make sure you’re covered. If not, call your insurance company to update your plan.

Has Your Business Been Affected by a Flood?

Call Alpha-Omega Disaster Restoratio for inspection. Water in your building requires quick action to prevent further structural or mold damage.Alpha-Omeg is a fully certified restoration company serving Billings, MT and the surrounding areas. We are on call 24/7 and will come to assess the situation, document the damage, and work with your insurance adjuster to provide you the fastest and best water restoration possible. When we are done, all traces of the destruction will be gone, leaving you with a safe and functional business