Jelf Insurance Brokers offers top tips for flood damage limitation
With flash floods becoming an increasing concern, Lee Davey, Managing Director (South West), Jelf Insurance Brokers offers his advice for dealing with flood damage and provides some top tips to help businesses protect themselves from being caught unawares and unprepared.
“There are lots of things you can do to prepare your home or business premises, so that if flooding happens the damage it causes is less extensive and less costly” said Lee. “The old adage that ‘it always pays to be prepared’, certainly rings true here; the key is to act now so you’re ready if there is a flood in your area in the future. This will help you not only to save money, but will also save you a lot of time, inconvenience and heartache further on down the line.
“Simple measures such as keeping drains and gutters clear of debris and keeping a stock of sandbags on your property will help hold back any rising water. Check your buildings and contents insurance policies to see what cover they provide for flood damage and be sure to keep these policies up to date. I would also advise that you keep these documents close to hand, including insurer’s claims reporting and out of hours phone numbers for emergencies.
“In the unfortunate event of a flood, mitigation of losses is the key. If water has entered your premises, your insurer will understand the need to take action in order to keep your business running, as long as any costs in so doing are reasonable. The best course of action is to take pictures of any damage and check immediately with your Broker.”
Jelf’s Top Tips
• Maintenance is a key factor in avoiding ingress of water into a property – regularly check roof areas for slipped or missing tiles, loose or cracked flashings or worn concrete.
• Keep all drains and gutters clear of debris. During high rainfall, blocked guttering could cause extensive water damage to your property.
• Back up computer systems to avoid the loss of data. Both lightning and flood damage could wipe a computer's hard drive. In the event of a flood be sure to turn off all electrical equipment if possible in order to avoid lightening damage.
• Keep a stock of sandbags - the local council may be able to supply them. Should a flood occur, put your temporary flood protection measures in place, for example put sandbags down and cover weak or vulnerable areas such as windows and doors.
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Notes to editors:
Media contact: Charlotte Troy, , 0117 315 6549.
About Jelf
Jelf is a leading independent consultancy supporting businesses and individuals with expert advice on matters relating to insurance, employee benefits, health insurance and financial planning. Our purpose is simple: to build a long-lasting relationship with clients and to become their trusted adviser.
Formed in 1989 by Chris Jelf, the company has 31 offices across England and Wales and employs more than 1,000 members of staff.
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