24/7 Emergency Service
3 Ways to Prepare Your Business for Flooding | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston
12/7/2021 (Permalink)
When flooding presents an issue, SERVPRO of Downtown Charlestown is here to help.
It’s widely known that Charleston is prone to flooding. Because our city is flat, surrounded by water and barely above sea level, it’s difficult for even modern drainage systems to overcome the natural laws of how rainwater accumulates and flows.
As a business owner in the Lowcountry, it’s crucial for you to understand that being affected by coastal flooding is not only possible, but maybe even likely depending on where your business is located.
So what should you do? Start with these three things:
Knowing your flood zone risk is step one, as Charleston floods from both Atlantic waters and area rivers. This information is always a little in flux, and FEMA is regularly updating it—but the flood maps and zones will let you know areas of particular risk.
And knowing your risk will help you know the degree to which you may need to plan and prepare for future flooding.
Up to half of all small businesses don’t recover from disasters like flooding, and part of the reason for that is that many don’t have a continuity plan, which is a strategy for continuing business workflow and enacting recovery measures during a disruption.
Your continuity plan should include instructions for teams about building and city evacuation, shutting off main power to avoid electrical fires and damage, and the backup of important documents. It can also include a blueprint for how your business can use alternate locations and vendors while normal operations are disrupted.
And don’t forget to share and practice this plan with your teams and employees—you may know the plan, but it’s not going to operate effectively unless everyone knows their role and how the plan is supposed to play out.
Things like battery-powered sump pumps, extra drainage valves and raised electrical outlets can all help minimize the impact of future flooding, and while their installation may add cost upfront, they can save you a lot when hurricane season or heavy rains bring flood waters in.
You can also install flood doors and barriers, and employ the use of sandbags and other tools to try to stop flood waters from breaching your exterior.
When flooding presents an issue, we’re here to help you recover from damage and restore property and documents. Click or call today to see how SERVPRO can serve your Charleston business.