Guidance

Business flood plan checklists

Updated 16 November 2023

Applies to England

Taking simple steps can go a long way to protect your business from flooding. Preparing in advance will make it easier to respond to and recover from a flood.听听

Your business should have a flood plan. Keep it in a safe and accessible place, away from potential flood water.听

Read our personal flood plan advice for core steps to take to stay safe in a flood.

1. Before a flood听

Actions you can take to protect your business include:听

  • check your insurance covers you for flood damage, business interruption and lost revenue听
  • adapt your business to the risk of flooding
  • check that your flood prevention products or flood warning systems function properly听听
  • use your existing maintenance procedures as an opportunity to reduce your flood risk听
  • include potential impacts of a flood on staff in your health and safety assessments听
  • agree flood contingency plans with suppliers and customers and contract management听
  • plan for preventing business disruption and assisting recovery (known as business continuity)听

2. Business flood plan checklist听

Here are examples of information you could include in your plan:听

  • trigger points for action that make the most sense for your plan, for example water in the car park听听
  • what should happen at these trigger points and what might change if the flood gets worse听
  • security procedures you might need to activate during a flood听听
  • a description or map of emergency routes and evacuation points听听
  • shut off points for gas, electricity and water, and details of any emergency power source听
  • details of items that may need special protective measures, for example hazardous or refrigerated materials, and what to do with them听

For your data and information:听

  • safe storage of data and information, for example customer and staff records听
  • moving important documents to a location where they won鈥檛 be damaged by flood water听

For your people:听

  • emergency contact information, including out of normal hours听
  • a note of staff who may need assistance when flooding happens听
  • details of where a first aid kit, safety equipment or medical supplies are located听
  • details of actions for your staff to take and the training they may need to carry out these roles and responsibilities听

Make a person, or group of people, responsible for managing a flood emergency, including:听

  • carrying out your flood plan听
  • making decisions听
  • contacting relevant people on and off site听
  • speaking with public authorities听
  • managing other staff听

You should make a list of important contacts, including:听

  • building services听
  • utilities听
  • suppliers听听
  • evacuation contacts for staff听

These organisations may be able to help with:听听

  • installing flood protection products听
  • moving stock and important items to safe locations听
  • emergency storage听
  • emergency supplies听
  • medical support听

Others who can help might include:听

  • local business and community networks听
  • chambers of commerce听
  • your local council听

Make sure you know what you must do under relevant regulations and legislation, including:听

  • health and safety听
  • liability听
  • environmental management听
  • financial management听

3. Immediately before a flood听

If flooding is about to happen, check your staff:听

  • are safe听听
  • know what to do in a flood听
  • know their role and responsibilities听
  • know how to communicate in an emergency听

4. When a flood happens听

Follow your flood plan. You can also follow advice in:听

5. After a flood听

Follow your flood plan. You can also follow advice in:听

6. Campsites and caravan parks听

We have specific guidance for managing the flood risk of your campsite or caravan park.