STORMS – HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS

Storms and gales are the most common cause of damage and disruption in the UK, according to the Met Office, flooding in 2015 cost an unbelievable £5bn in damages With Storm Doris set to arrive in the next 24 hours the danger is that there will be widespread disruption and damage to properties all over the UK, this can be a worrying time for the leisure industry if your business is at risk of being affected. We have put together the following guide if flood is imminent in your area Move as much contents as possible to higher floors Raise heavy electrical items off the floor, raise them on bricks Unplug electrical/sensitive items and if possible move them high up or store them on higher floors Secure any items which are stored externally which might move and cause damage on impact Turn off mains supplies and close off flow valves Fit a temporary toilet pan seal to prevent the flood water coming back up the toilets Keep important documents in watertight plastic bag in a high place or even away from the premises Put into place temporary flood barriers for doors & windows Stop any deliveries due at the premises If you live in an area prone to flooding access flood warnings & advice through The Environment Agency or the Flood Warning Information service https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/ In the event that you are affected, find information below on how you can assist an insurance claim for flooding and water damage. Don’t throw anything away Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive, and take photographs and video footage of any and all damage to your property. Also get photographic evidence of all equipment (such as machines and other goods covered by your policy). Make detailed notes of damage When you can safely enter your venue, you’ll need to record every detail of the flood damage. Make sure you do not remove or replace any items damaged without prior approval from your insurance company, instead make detailed notes of all the items which have been affected, being accurate as to the extent of the damage. If you can safely get inside your property, mark the height of flood water on the wall with a permanent marker, in all the affected rooms. As mentioned before, take as many photos or make a video of the flood damage all over your venue. If your insurance covers you for food or perishable goods, make a note of anything you throw away because it has gone off, or is contaminated. Keep a record of everything related to your claim You should keep a detailed record of all correspondence with anyone cleaning up or repairing your leisure establishment. This will help when you speak to your insurance company about your claim. When you make calls note down the follow: who you spoke to, the date of the call or message, the time you made or received any messages, and what was agreed. It’s also important to keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send or receive, and keep all receipts of any emergency repair work you have done, like fixing electric fittings or other time critical repairs. Something people often forget it so keep a record of measures taken to protect your leisure facility to protect it from floods, if you put down barriers or sandbags and rearranged the layout to be better protected, it’s a good idea to keep a record of exactly what and when you did it. Make sure you don’t throw anything away until you have been informed that this is acceptable. The flooding problems and extreme weather is set to continue, so being prepared and knowing exactly what to do when the worst does happen is vital. Final notes on flooding Finally, flooding is a type of damage that is sometimes missing from standard insurance coverage wording, so be sure to clarify this with us (or your insurance broker) if you have any questions or concerns about flood damage to your establishment. To get in touch with of our experienced and professional staff contact us on 0844 488 9205 or use our contact form to find out how we could provide you with the best possible coverage for your bar, casino, bingo hall and all manner of late night entertainment venues.

For more information on STORMS – HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS talk to NDML Insurance Specialists