Welsh businesses warned of flooding following dry weather

Despite this summer being one of the driest on record, one of Wales’ leading insurance brokers is warning businesses in Wales to be vigilant to the risk of flooding which increases on the back of prolonged periods of dry weather.

The danger of summer flash flooding is that it can strike anywhere, often without warning, as was seen in Swansea, Port Talbot and Porthcawl earlier this month when heavy rainfall landed on dry ground causing a high volume of surface water run off and damage.

Robert Lewis, Corporate Broking Director at Towergate Insurance Brokers, says that while it can be difficult to predict this sort of flooding, there are things that business owners can do before and afterwards to minimise damage and disruption.

Robert said: “It might sound obvious but after extended periods of dry weather, the best thing people can do is keep an eye on the forecast and if necessary, take precautions such as putting sandbags down, or removing anything of value to higher levels within the property.

“But, if flooding does hit, there are a couple of steps that can be taken to mitigate loss. For one, as soon as it’s secure to enter the building, make the area safe, turn off supplies and arrange temporary repairs to prevent further damage (although if the cost of this is not much different to the full repair obtain insurer advice first).

“I would always advise customers to record the flood damage themselves early on too. Take photos or videos of the damage, make an inventory and if possible, locate and copy original purchase receipts.

“A word of caution though, for many people clearing a flooded building their instinct would be to dispose of anything that has been damaged. But, doing this without seeking insurers approval could endanger an insurance claim, so it’s vital that customers’ first call is to their insurance company.

“It is also worth checking your policy, if it includes business interruption, this may extend to covering financial losses (loss of income and/or gross profit) or increased costs of working incurred because of weather damage.

“Anyone who is concerned about flood risk should talk to their insurance broker, new solutions are available to ensure that UK businesses, even in high-risk flood areas, can continue to be covered. Your broker can help you understand the different offerings, and help you decide which is best for your business.”