March 23, 2022
After all of the hard work you have put into your business, the last thing you want is for it to get damaged by flooding. We have accumulated some tips to help you in protecting your business from flood damage.
FEMA has a Flood Map Service that can help you understand the flood risk in your business’ area. It is very useful to be familiar with this risk to know how severely inclement weather will typically impact you. Knowing the base flood elevation (BFE) and the elevation of the lowest floor of your property can help you determine this as well.
If you know your building is in a high-flood area, there are some measures you can take to divert or reduce the amount of water entering your business. Some temporary solutions include water-absorbent barriers, sandbags, and plastic tarps, but this will not withstand heavy or deep floodwaters. For a more permanent solution, watertight shields are available for purchase. They should be at least 3 feet above the BFE of your property and should be installed over doors and windows on the bottom level of the building.
If flooding is common in your area, look into purchasing flood insurance to protect your business. This policy can save you thousands of dollars should your property flood. Make sure to speak with your agent to understand the terms and conditions of your flood insurance policy so you know what is covered. While Providence Mutual does not offer flood insurance, we do offer a water back-up and sump overflow endorsement in our businessowners policy. This covers water which backs up through sewers or drains only.
Examine your building for any holes or cracks in the interior walls. Apply a waterproof sealant in these areas to deter water from coming through.
We know how important your business is to you. Put our tips to good use in protecting your business from flood damage this year!
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