6 Tips to Protecting Your Commercial Offices from Flood Damage

Businesses are susceptible to flood damage, just like any other structure. Five tips can help you prepare and protect your offices.
Flooding is counted among the most common and costly natural disasters in the United States. While flood damage can occur anywhere, some areas are more prone to flooding than others.

If your commercial office is located in an area at risk for flooding, it is crucial to put up measures to protect your property from flood damage. Otherwise, you could be subject to costly repairs and lost business.

As a water and flood damage restoration company, 1-800 WATER DAMAGE has seen firsthand the devastation that flooding can cause. We are here to assist regarding the possibility of flood damage to your commercial office with our top six tips.

1. Know Your Flood Risk

The first step to protecting your commercial office from flood damage is to know your flood risk. Depending on where your office building is located, you may be at a higher risk for flooding than others.

There are a few ways to determine your flood risk:
● Check with your local floodplain administrator. They can tell you if your property is located in a floodplain and the flood risks for that area.
● Look at FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer. This interactive map shows areas with a high, medium, or low risk of flooding.

2. Get Flood Insurance

Most standard commercial property insurance policies do not cover flood damage. If you live in an area prone to flooding, it is essential to purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance will cover a significant cost of damages incurred from floodwaters.

You can get flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). You can also get it from private insurance companies.
● Check your state’s floodplain management regulations. Some states have laws that require flood insurance for commercial properties in high-risk flood zones.
● Talk to your insurance agent or broker about flood insurance options.

3. Elevate Critical Equipment

If floodwaters enter your commercial property, it is important to have critical equipment elevated off the ground. This includes items such as computers, servers, and other electronic equipment. By elevating this equipment, you will minimize the amount of damage caused by floodwaters.

4. Install Check Valves

Check valves allow water to flow in one direction but not in the other. These valves can be installed in your plumbing system to prevent floodwaters from entering your property through the sewer or drain lines.

5. Install Flood Barriers

Flood barriers are physical barriers that can be used to block floodwaters from entering your property. There are a variety of available flood barriers, and you should select the one that is best suited for your needs.

6. Have a Professional Inspect Your Property

A professional can identify potential weak points in your property that could be susceptible to flood damage. By having a professional expert inspect your property, you can make the necessary repairs, reinforce the boundaries, and retrofit flood barriers to help protect your property from damage.

Even after taking all of these precautions, flood damage can still occur. If your commercial office does suffer from flood damage, connect with 1-800 WATER DAMAGE. We are a professional flood damage restoration company that can help you get your property back to its pre-flood condition.

Our team comes equipped with the latest technology and equipment to quickly and effectively restore your property. We also work with numerous insurance companies in Harrisburg, PA, so you can rest assured that your flood damage restoration will be covered.