How to Protect Your Commercial Building this Flood Season

12/23/2019 (Permalink)

Barricade the perimeter with sandbags

How to Protect Your Commercial Building this Flood Season

While not tied to any season, most flooding occurs during the spring and fall months in Mount Prospect, IL. As a commercial property owner operating in this area, it is necessary to keep those seasons in mind and to prepare a plan for how you are going to handle any potential crisis. Thankfully, flood mitigation experts are available to help you design a plan specific to your facility's needs. Any plan you come up with, however, will likely use at least three steps or parts.

• Barricade the perimeter
• Secure exterior furniture and art
• Protect integral equipment
  

Barricade the Perimeter
The essential element used to defend against possible flood damage is a barricade. However, as you are dealing with water, you need to use a source material that is heavy and somewhat absorbent, which means that sand is typically the best choice. While you may not be able to afford to stack sandbags all the way around your property, it is essential that you create walls to protect entryways and vulnerable points, like doors and windows. Also, make sure that the bags are stacked higher than the expected water levels.

Secure Exterior Furniture and Art
Next, flooding does not just create a concern for water levels and problems; it also creates a concern for property loss caused by floating debris and furniture. Therefore, if you have benches or other furniture outside of your building, either remove it and store it someplace safe or secure it to the concrete and weigh it down. The same goes for sculptures, statues or other garden art.

Protect Integral Equipment
Last, to prevent storm damage and floodwaters from affecting any merchandise or sensitive equipment, be sure to move everything of value to a higher level in the building. Also, it is likely wise to keep everything unplugged just in case water levels do rise inside your property, reaching the electrical outlets.
Flooding can happen any time of the year, and if your commercial facility is in an area prone to such disasters, then make sure to take the appropriate precautions. If unsure how to plan ahead, then contact a flood mitigation expert to advise you on proper steps to take.