Ways To Mitigate Flooding Damage at Your Business

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Protecting your business from damage is a tricky task—there are many steps to take, like insurance coverage and keeping track of the weather. Additionally, you need to know your area's base flood elevation (BFE), an indicator to show if your business’s lowest floor is above or below flood levels. Knowing this number can determine if you need to elevate your building.

Knowing the BFE is crucial, but knowing how to mitigate flooding damage at your business is just as important. Follow along to learn ways to equip yourself to protect your business from flood damage.

Protect the Building’s Vulnerable Areas

The BFE is more than a number; it tells you how far below or above flood levels your lowest floor level is. For instance, the basement is usually a structure’s lowest point, and you must do all you can to protect it. The best course of action is to locate your vulnerable areas—any places that lead to a lower ground level, like a lobby, seating area, or daycare centers.

The best methods for protecting vulnerable areas are dry and wet floodproofing techniques. Dry floodproofing involves installing barriers on the walls, like a coating or plating, to keep water from coming through the walls. Another method is wet floodproofing, which is when water pools into a lower level of a building. This technique consists of setting up paths to send water away from hotspots, like electricity and pipes.

Get the Right Water Retention Equipment

It’s important to get the right water retention equipment so you can prepare your business for potential flooding. The best way to weather the storm is to buy water mitigation equipment, like a water pump, beforehand. Water pumps can float or sit while you use a hose to drain the water.

Use flood bags to keep water damage to a minimum and block off as much water as possible. A flood bag absorbs and contains water to prevent an entire room from flooding. This is the best method to use on lower floors.

Clean Out the Gutters and Drains

The worst thing you could do for your business is not check your gutters and drains before a bad storm comes. If you avoid cleaning out the gutters and drains and don’t install a new system, you risk flooding the sides of your building. This problem could negatively affect the foundation. Avoid this altogether by hiring someone to clean your gutters and drains for you.

A professional will clean your drains and ensure the trapped water can drain from your building’s gutters. As you prepare your business for all kinds of weather, start applying different ways to mitigate flooding damage at your business in your daily inspections.