Your business has been flooded - what to do now

Before doing anything else, confirm it is safe to approach your premises.

• Wait for the all-clear - Do not re-enter until the Environment Agency or local authority confirms floodwater has receded and it is safe
• Check for structural damage - Look for cracks, bulging walls, or subsidence before entering. If the building looks unstable, stay out and call your local authority
• Turn off utilities - If you can safely reach the mains, turn off gas and electricity. If you cannot, call your gas and electricity providers for emergency disconnection
• Have electrics inspected - A qualified electrician must check the installation before you reconnect the power supply. Wet electrics can kill
• Wear protective equipment - Floodwater contains sewage and contaminants. Wear waterproof boots, rubber gloves, and a face mask when entering

Your insurance claim depends on evidence. Before you move anything or start cleaning, record the damage thoroughly.

• Photograph and video everything - walls, floors, stock, equipment, fixtures. Include the flood level mark on walls
• List damaged items with approximate values. Include building fabric, fixtures, stock, equipment, and any vehicles
• Keep damaged items - Do not dispose of anything until your insurer or loss adjuster has seen it, unless it poses a health hazard
• Record the flood level - Measure and photograph the high-water mark. This helps with your claim and future resilience planning

Contact your insurer immediately

• Call your insurer's claims line as soon as possible. Most have 24-hour flood helplines during major events
• Ask about emergency payments for immediate needs such as alternative premises or equipment
• Check your business interruption cover - this compensates for lost trading income during recovery and is often more valuable than the property damage claim
• Ask when a loss adjuster will visit. Do not commission major repairs until the adjuster has assessed the damage

After major flood events, the government may activate emergency support schemes. Availability depends on the scale of the event and is not guaranteed.

• Business Recovery Grant - Following significant floods, a grant of up to GBP 2,500 may be available to affected businesses through your local authority. Check with your council
• Business rate relief - Your local authority may offer temporary business rate relief for flood-damaged premises that cannot trade. Contact your council's business rates team
• Repair and Renew Grant - Up to GBP 5,000 per property for flood resilience measures installed during repairs. This must be claimed during the repair process, not afterwards
• National Flood Forum - Free advice and support from other flood-affected businesses and communities
• Your bank - Many lenders offer emergency overdraft facilities, payment holidays, or emergency loans following declared flood events

Flood recovery takes longer than most people expect. Rushing repairs before the building is properly dried out causes damp, mould, and costly rework.

• Use professional flood cleanup contractors - They have the equipment and training to handle contaminated water safely
• Allow thorough drying - A flooded building typically takes 6 to 12 months to dry fully. Using industrial dehumidifiers and heaters accelerates this, but do not replaster or redecorate until moisture readings confirm the structure is dry
• Strip affected plaster - Standard gypsum plaster absorbs water and must be removed to at least 500mm above the flood line. It cannot be dried and reused
• Check for contamination - Floodwater deposits contaminants. Surfaces that contacted floodwater must be cleaned and disinfected, particularly in food businesses
• Deal with mould promptly - Mould appears within 24 to 48 hours in warm conditions. Professional treatment prevents it becoming a long-term problem

If you are repairing flood damage, this is the most cost-effective time to install flood resilience measures. The additional cost during repairs is a fraction of retrofitting later.

Key resilience measures to include during repairs

• Raise electrics - Reinstall sockets, consumer units, and meters at 1.5 metres or above. This is the single most impactful resilience measure
• Use lime plaster - Replace gypsum plaster with lime, which dries out and recovers after flooding rather than needing to be stripped again
• Fit water-resistant flooring - Ceramic tiles, treated stone, or sealed concrete instead of carpet or laminate
• Install non-return valves - Prevent contaminated water backing up through drains during the next flood
• Consider flood barriers - Fit removable or automatic barriers at doorways