Many parts of the UK have been affected by the terrible winter storms that resulted in record breaking flooding. Some areas are still struggling to get back to normality, with high waters continuing to cause problems. If your business premises were affected, here are ten things you need to think about and work through to help you get back on your feet.
Safety First
If you’re able to get back into your property the first thing to do is make sure all your utilities are correctly and safely turned off at the mains. The purpose is to reduce the risk of fires and to prevent short circuits. If the supply has been interrupted you’ll need to contact the service providers to discover when they expect the supply to be reconnected.
Check with Your Insurers
Call your insurance company as soon as possible, let them know the extent of the current damage and provide them with a rough estimate of the claim you’ll be making. The insurance providers will provide you with advice on the necessary steps you’ll need to take and they may need to provide you with contact details of specialist help.
Get Your Camera Ready
It’s important to take photographic evidence of all the damage and loss that has occurred as a result of the floods. Don’t touch anything until you have the photograph and then once you do begin to remove items, take more photos to send. Don’t forget to snap the damage to the property as well as your goods; including stock, food and equipment, don’t leave anything out.
Record the Data
Write down details of all the damage to go along with the photographs. Once you have the documentation and the photo you can throw the item away responsibly if it’s damaged beyond repair. Don’t throw away anything that can be repaired, store it somewhere secure and out of the risk zone in case further flooding occurs.
Move Undamaged Items
Everything that hasn’t been touched by the flooding can be removed to a higher level. Make sure you do remove the items as they will still be at risk of contamination.
The Clean Up
The property will need to be correctly ventilated in order to reduce the risk of mould and mildew from growing. Contact the specialist firms such as fire and flood restoration services who will be able to make the area safe. Flood waters contain many hazardous contaminants so the area will need to be correctly cleaned to reduce the risks to your personal health and the health and safety of your employees.
Consider Hiring Temporary Offices
It’s important not to put yourself or your employees at risk, so leasing temporary accommodation or working out of your home is the best option while the clean-up process is carried out. Your temporary office will allow you to continue trading to prevent further losses in turnover. Check that you have left your damaged property secured to prevent further loss.
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