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听
- 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.