Commercial Property Flood Prevention Tips

Whether you are a property owner or manager, water damage to your commercial buildings is a concern. It brings with it significant cleanup and replacement costs. Additionally, you may see tenants displaced and unwanted business interruption. Our list of flood prevention tips for commercial properties could prevent water damage during regular rainfall and even natural disasters.

Protect Your Property from Financial Damage With the National Flood Insurance Program

Did you know your commercial property must not be in a flood zone to invest in this insurance product? In Washington State, there are currently 296 participating communities that allow for this coverage that protects your business. Securing an insurance policy is always a good step when you want to protect your commercial property from potentially destructive forces.

Mind you, this insurance program will not cover all financial losses you might experience when your commercial property experiences flood damage. However, it will transfer some financial risk to the federal government. It is still up to the property owners or managers to maintain stormwater infrastructure to minimize the chance of damage as much as possible.

Think Through Your Building's Electricity Needs

What does electricity have to do with flood prevention tips for commercial properties? If you have sump pumps installed, a lot. These pumps are instrumental in moving water from the building's lowest point to the exterior. However, these pumps run on electricity. And, if you are looking at flood water due to a storm, there is the possibility that electricity will be cut off. A backup generator can power the sump pumps.

Some property managers elect to invest in backup generators that can power other commercial buildings' amenities. Remember that larger generators are more expensive. That said, you can easily damage your generator if you try to power too many appliances with a smaller model. Determine your electricity needs well in advance of making the purchase.

Have Your Storm Drain Infrastructure Inspected, Cleaned, and Maintained

Storm drain infrastructure provides built-in flood protection for commercial properties. So many options make it worthwhile to familiarize yourself with your property's current setup. A professional storm drain cleaning company can inspect your system to ensure it is rainy-season-ready.

Catch basins, storm filters, and oil-water separators are other elements of your system that could benefit from a good cleaning. Remember that privately maintained storm drain infrastructure is a critical defense against commercial flood damage. Keeping it in excellent shape is critical to protecting your commercial property.

It is interesting to note that much of your storm drain infrastructure is likely underground, where you will not have a good option to monitor it. Moreover, sediment quickly accumulates after several storms. Root infiltration also makes your systems less effective because it clogs the lines.

What You Can Do

Keep trash, branches, and leaves out of storm drains to make maintaining stormwater infrastructure easier. When you work with a maintenance company, direct them to inspect and clean these areas regularly. Landscapers must know they cannot blow grass clippings and leaves into the drains. Sometimes, construction trash ends up in the drains because of improper handling or disposal of waste. Keep a close eye on these problems and prevent them before they occur.

Prevent Flood Damage by Building a Working Relationship with a Stormwater Specialist

Flood prevention tips for commercial properties without the suggestion to put together a preparedness plan. This plan should include the contact information of a company that offers 24/7 emergency and standard annual maintenance services for your stormwater system.

Annual maintenance is beneficial to prevent flood damage and save money in the long run. When specialists visit your commercial property and inspect the storm system infrastructure regularly, you have plenty of warning if repairs may be required. In many cases, the experts can point to weak areas of your flood prevention plans, which allows you to make changes quickly.

At the same time, regular maintenance prevents blockages that could make the infrastructure less than effective. Once again, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow Flood Prevention Tips Today for Best Results

We have already touched on the fact that flood damage is not at the top of our minds when the skies are blue. When it starts raining or flooding, it is typically too late to prevent flooding, and you are left with cleanup and damage control. At that point, you likely struggle to find a property restoration company.

Therefore, make today the day you connect with a professional in storm drain inspections, cleaning, and regular maintenance services. When searching for a storm drain cleaning service near me, you will doubtlessly run across CatchAll Environmental, which serves numerous cities in Washington State.

Do not leave your flood prevention to chance. Now is a great time to take control of your flood prevention measures by making the call!