As any business owner will know, serious weather-related events can have a disastrous effect on the running of your setting and how you operate, even if you have adequate insurance cover.
In recent weeks we have seen some of the worst flooding on record in the UK and this has brought home to everyone just how disruptive an event like this can be.
Even if you have adequate insurance cover — including buildings, contents and business interruption cover — you will want to know ways in which you can help reduce the effect a loss like this would have on your setting.
Be prepared
- Don’t be taken by surprise - listen out for flood warnings on local TV and radio, and from the Environment Agency. They also provide a helpline which will provide information and advice (listed below). If a red weather warning is issued, it means that there could be a threat to life due to the weather. If such a warning is given, then in all likelihood flooding within the region will happen.
- Contact your local council to see where they are distributing sandbags and whether you can have any.
- Make sure you've considered all ways water could access your property, not just the doorways.
- Ensure you have an evacuation plan ready. You will need to know quick and safe routes out of your property and road routes out of flooded areas. Have a road map somewhere accessible so you know your options should usual routes become inaccessible.
- Be ready to switch off gas and electricity supplies if you are advised of imminent flooding.
- Consider having a “Flood Pack”, and make sure staff know where it is. This could contain torches, battery operated radios (with spare batteries), a first aid kit, spare clothes and/or blankets, and bottles of water.
Protect your assets
- Keep all insurance documents in a watertight container somewhere easily accessible.
- Back up electronic documents in case computers are damaged.
- Ensure that fire and security systems will still work, and that the property is adequately protected against theft and burglary.
- Relocate any items that could be damaged at low levels. As a minimum, make sure items which could be easily damaged by water are not stored directly on the floor.
What to do if your childcare setting gets flooded
If the worst should happen and your property is flooded, contact your buildings / contents insurers. If you are a tenant, contact your landlord straightaway so that they can contact their building insurers. Also, use the Environment Agency’s Floodline number for advice: 0845 988 1188
First steps
Ensure that nobody touches electrical equipment. Qualified professionals will need to check electrical and fire systems.
Once the water has started to recede, open windows to try to dry the building out, but only in the mornings, as the air is likely to turn damp in the afternoons. Don’t be tempted to use extreme sources of heat to try and dry out contents; this can cause more damage and cost more in the long run.
Store any damaged furniture and photograph any food damaged if your refrigerator fails.
Take care
Remember that floodwater is often contaminated, so be careful what you touch. If you do enter, wear overalls, overshoes and rubber gloves — your welfare is of prime importance.
You may need to take steps such as removing debris from airbricks and taking rubber-backed carpets outside to dry.
Don’t be tempted to redecorate until you are certain that the property has dried out – it can take months and you could end up with mould problems. It is important to check with a decorator or other expert to ensure that the walls and other surfaces are fully dried out and, if necessary, treated to prevent mould.
Your insurers and/or your landlord’s building insurers may appoint contractors to clean and dry the property where appropriate, while your contents insurers may appoint contractor to clean and dry your contents, should it be worthwhile. The contractors can start to make lists of the items which are beyond economic repair and need to be disposed of. Installation of drying equipment and air movers will occur.
Where the loss is significant a loss adjuster will be appointed by either your buildings and/or contents insurers to assist you in dealing with this traumatic experience. The loss adjuster will be there to help co-ordinate the buildings re-instatement works and/ or assist with the settlement of your damaged contents/ business interruption claim.
Getting back on track
If the worst should happen, it is essential that you get your setting back on its feet as quickly as possible. If the flooding means that you cannot operate look for nearby locations where you can operate from, make enquires if these can be rented.
Ensure that all the parents are kept up to date with the progress of works to reinstate the setting, as good communication is essential.
Following the advice given here will go a long way to ensuring a smooth process, allowing you to get back to business as usual.
If you have any questions about your insurance organised through the Early Years Alliance, you can reach the team on 0207 697 2585.
