3 Flood Prevention Steps for Businesses

11/16/2020 (Permalink)

Planting native trees and shrubs reduces soil erosion caused by moving water

Here Are Three Steps To Get You Started

Preparing for a flood is probably not something you think about every day. Businesses tend to focus on day-to-day operations and how to make a profit. Unfortunately, major storms and hurricanes don’t give business owners advance notice. Intense rain and flowing surface water can quickly cause extensive water damage to buildings. Fortunately, flood prevention strategies don’t have to be complex or time-consuming. Here are three steps to get you started.

1. Know Your Risk
The first step is to determine your flood risk. Some areas are high-risk because they are prone to flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a flood map to help people understand their level of risk. This knowledge can help businesses make an appropriate flood plan. Another term to understand is base flood elevation. Buildings should be constructed at a minimum of three feet above this level to minimize the effects of flood damage. Even if your Santa Ana, CA, property is located in an area with low or moderate risk, consider purchasing flood insurance to protect your business.

2. Use Defense Methods
All businesses should employ flood prevention strategies to minimize harm. Defense methods include retention ponds, retaining walls and dry floodproofing techniques (e.g., sandbags, watertight shields, flood gates, etc.). Your city planning department can be a valuable resource for understanding what flood planning and building codes are in place to reduce water damage.

3. Plant Native Trees and Shrubs
Many people are unaware that proper vegetation can help lessen the damaging effects of a flood. Planting native trees and shrubs reduces soil erosion caused by moving water. Vegetation also breaks the force of moving flood water. Educate yourself about the various types of vegetation that can be beneficial in your area.
These flood prevention steps are a great start to preparing your business for a major storm or flood. If your business does experience flood damage, a restoration company can perform flood cleaning.