| What do you think will be the lasting memory of | | | | 2. Turning off electrical equipment (excluding burglar |
| summer 2007 for most people? | | | | alarms) |
| Gordon Brown becoming the new Prime Minister of | | | | 3. Turning off the supply to central heating units if |
| Great Britain? The memorial concert for Princess | | | | these are at ground level |
| Diana at Wembley Stadium? Perhaps the image of a | | | | 4. Whenever and wherever possible moving vehicles |
| burning car being driven into Glasgow Airport? | | | | to high ground |
| Each of these events has their own merits but for | | | | 5. Sand bagging the premises if there is a high |
| many people summer 2007 will be remembered for | | | | exposure to potential flooding |
| the weather and the flooding that has hit many parts | | | | 6. Consider constructing gullies to funnel water to |
| of the UK. This article looks at recent weather | | | | drains |
| patterns and gives some tips on how businesses can | | | | 7. Clearing all drains and gutters on and around the |
| try to avoid flooding in the future. | | | | premises of leaves and any other obstructionsto allow |
| Rising temperatures, warmer winters and even hotter | | | | an unrestricted flow of water |
| summers have been the talk from experts when it | | | | 8. Moving high value items away from unmanned |
| comes to climate change but recent years has seen | | | | premises |
| worldwide misery and destruction when it comes to | | | | This is by no means a comprehensive list of actions |
| the weather. | | | | you could take prior to a flood but by following them |
| The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in the Indian Ocean | | | | your chances of a loss occurring could be significantly |
| brought with it devastation and loss beyond belief with | | | | reduced. |
| according to United Nations figures 229,866 people lost, | | | | So what action can you take in the event of a loss |
| including 186,983 dead and 42,883 missing. | | | | occurring? |
| 2005 saw Hurricane Katrina rip through many parts of | | | | Post Loss tips include: |
| the United States with at least 1,836 people losing their | | | | 1. Removing debris where possible. However if the |
| lives in the Hurricane and subsequent floods. The | | | | debris is in any way contaminated, you may need to |
| storm is estimated to have been responsible for $81.2 | | | | contact the emergency services first. |
| billion (2005 U.S Dollars) in damage, making it the | | | | 2. Saving items of value for inspection |
| costliest natural disaster in US history. | | | | 3. If stranded, contact the emergency services |
| And in the United Kingdom in June and July 2007 yet | | | | immediately |
| more misery in the form of torrential rainfall that has | | | | 4. If possible allowing ventilation to the premises |
| seen homes, businesses and lives destroyed | | | | 5. Consider up to £500 of emergency repairs to |
| throughout many parts of England, Scotland, Ireland | | | | mitigate future losses |
| and Wales. And whilst the storms in the UK haven't | | | | 6. Take all appropriate and reasonable measures to |
| been on the scale of those witnessed in the Far East | | | | protect the premises from future flooding |
| and United States, lives have been lost and the clean | | | | 7. Contact your insurance broker or insurance |
| up operation is just underway. | | | | company immediately so they can help make sure |
| So with further rainfall forecast in the UK the UK's | | | | your claim is dealt with as quickly and as favourably as |
| Business Insurance Broker, Northern Counties | | | | possible |
| Insurance, have produced these useful tips which | | | | Hopefully the weather like we have seen in the |
| businesses can follow to help them both pre and post | | | | summer of 2007 will be a freak occurrence that |
| loss should they be hit by flooding. | | | | doesn't hit us again but should storms and flooding |
| Pre Loss tips include: | | | | continue hopefully these Useful Tips for Avoiding Flood |
| 1. Ensuring that where possible all electrical equipment | | | | Damage will go some way to help you out. |
| and stock is stored at least four feet above ground | | | | |