With the next COP summit coming up in Brazil and Jamaica still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Melissa, few reminders are needed of the growing threat posed by climate change around the world. The UK may not get hurricanes, but our storms are getting worse.
Meteorologists are all too aware of the fact that warmer weather holds more moisture and this means when storms hit, there is a lot more rain. That in turn increases the flood risk. One only needs to look at the latest situation in Cumbria to see a familiar situation in towns like Cockermouth and Keswick.
You will probably be aware already if your store is in an at-risk area, with the government providing data like a flood risk map to show where the dangers are greatest.
As the risks increase, you may benefit from engaging with effective flood recovery services as part of your plan to deal with any floods that occur. Like anyone affected by such an event, it will be very disruptive and your priority will be to get back on your feet as soon as possible.
Effective Disaster Recovery Planning
Disaster recovery plans should be in place for every business, but while some can simply move their staff to a different building or get them to work from home, retail stores are different. Indeed, the problem will be a shared one if the whole high street is under water.
Getting back on your feet fast is essential. True, you may be insured against floods (although this is very expensive when the risk is high), but the best way to do this will be to have the means to get everything up and running quickly so you can welcome customers back through your doors as soon as possible.
That can mean moving stock and furniture out of the building, carrying out a deep clean and then getting everything back in place (along with any stock not ruined by the flood). This is no small task, so by having arrangements in place to get practical help with it all, you can be getting back to normal much sooner than your high street neighbours.