Preparing organisations for flooding

Category Business Continuity Management Briefing BCM - BCM & Risk Management - news - General

Flood Planning ...some key points

The Environment Agency has produced this discussion guide to help organisations address flood planning.

This discussion guide sums up the key areas of flood planning. It is designed to direct thinking about how businesses can prepare for flooding, and ensure you don't miss anything major in your flood preparations.

Ideally all your planning should be managed within a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan. Look at all your existing business policies, and think about whether they are appropriate in the event of a flood. You might want to adapt your procedures to prepare for flooding.

Security procedures - Locking windows, doors and setting the alarm. You might need more than one person to help do this.

Insurance policies - Are you insured for flood damage, business interruption and lost revenue?

Employee manuals - You might add flood safety to staff information packs, or adapt job descriptions to include flood warden duties.

Hazardous materials plan - You must ensure that chemicals, oils and other substances in your possession are kept safe and do not contaminate flood water.

Health and safety assessment - Plan to check functioning of flood products and flood warning systems regularly, just as you do for fire safety equipment.

Check codes and regulations that might apply to your business in the event of a flood. The following could provide guidance on the right actions to take:

Occupational health and safety regulations
Environmental regulations
Important contacts

Make a list of important telephone numbers, including contacts for gas, electricity, water and telephone providers.

Make a list of employees' contact details in the event of an evacuation. This should include mobile telephone numbers, or numbers for their home or the home of a friend or relative.
Think about staff who may need special assistance in the event of a flood (e.g. elderly, deaf, blind etc.)

Know the location of cut-off points for gas, electricity and water. Ideally, these should be marked on a map that is stored with your flood plan.

Know the location of chemicals, oils or other materials that could be dangerous or contaminate flood water. These should be stored safe from floods and other damage.
Protective actions

Note key stock, equipment and possessions that may need special protection from flood waters.

Consider things you may need during or after a flood (i.e. sandbags, plastic sheeting, loudspeaker etc.)

See if it's possible to move key operations, such as shipping and receiving or customer services, to another building.

Suppliers and external links

Identify products and services you won't need in the event of a flood, or which suppliers may not be able to provide. Make back-up plans or arrangements for short-notice cancellation of deliveries.

Consider contracting in advance with companies whose help you may need after a flood. This avoids the frustration of finding help in an emergency, and puts you in a better position to negotiate costs.

Identify people who can help you before, during and after a flood. Contact them and understand how they deliver services and consider registering or implementing a contract with them. Do not count on immediate response ... one supplier of clean up services was recieving new call outs at the rate of one every 18 seconds after the 2007 summer deluge.

If you would like to now more about the Continuity Forums submission to the Pitt review please contact us directly.

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