Protecting your business from flood. The effects of a flood on a business can be substantial, sustained and catastrophic. Thankfully, however, the costs and impact of a flood can be minimised by good planning, and an effective action plan can help your business recover with reduced impact on key customers and suppliers. QBE have produced some guidance which can help prepare your business should the unthinkable happen.

1. Howtocreateasitespecificflood
emergencyresponseplan
TheintentofaFloodEmergencyPlanistocommittoabest
effortinmakingreasonableplansandpreparationstoreduce
theimpactofaflood.
PROPERTY RISK SOLUTIONS
TECHNICAL GUIDE
FLOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Given careful preparation and a good flood emergency plan, the
damage effects of a flood situation can largely be mitigated. It is
not expected that a site will engage in any form of active “flood
fight” during the event to prevent the flood waters from entering
site nor expected spend heavily on specialist equipment to
perform the planned tasks.
The expectation is that they will make best use of available staff
equipment and time to develop a strategy to reduce loss in
practical pre-planned ways.
The site should develop a full understanding of the flood
scenario, key vulnerabilities, available and reasonable manpower
and resources to develop a plan which requires minimal training
and realistic investment.
It is strongly recommended that all sites that lie within a 500
year flood zone should have a Flood Emergency Flood Plan.
In particular sites within a 100 year flood zone should have a
detailed flood plan that is reviewed annually.
Flood Emergency Plan Requirements:
A. The site should take steps to understand the nature of the
flood hazard and the potential areas that could be exposed.
1. The source and direction of the flood.
2. Weather events that may trigger flood and/or
surface water inundation.
3. An estimation of the time taken to flood the site, given
an understanding of the initiating event. From this an
evaluation of the time needed to effect the site’s flood
defence plans and actions.
4. The likely depth of water both on site and in low lying
areas such as basements.
5. The flooding likelihood. This is usually the flood
return level.
6. An estimation of the length of time water will remain in
the facility,
7. An estimation of the damage that would be suffered and
the resultant business impact.

2. Recommendation
It is strongly recommended that all sites that lie within a
500 year flood zone should have a Flood Emergency
Flood Plan. In particular sites within a 100 year flood zone
should have a detail flood plan that is reviewed annually.
PROPERTY RISK SOLUTIONS
FLOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
B. The plan must clearly designate the person(s) that has
responsibility and authority to activate the plan and flood
response. In addition all leadership roles must be clearly
defined and designated.
The plan must also take into consideration of how normal
operations will respond considering time and conditions in
which these operations will be terminated.
C. Within the plan, there will be certain actions when deployed
will have significant impact over the whole site or affect key
operations. These would include the powering down of
electrical power of the shutdown of gas and other utilities.
This person(s) should be clearly defined, designated and
their authority reinforced. The procedures for powering
down or shutting down sites and processes should be fully
documented. This should include not only the task but also
timing of the shut down processes.
D. A plan should be made to remove standing or ponding
water in key critical areas such as basements contain high
value equipment or ponding in the racking storage areas.
E. Practices and procedures for relocating equipment and
storage to higher levels should be fully planned and
documented.
F. Staff designated with roles and responsibilities must
understand their roles fully. The roles should be
documented and training provided where necessary.
G. A person should be designated to monitor flood
information official sources such as the government, local
authorities, media and jurisdictional bodies.
H. Key contractors and suppliers should be identified and
even retained in case of flood. These would include but
not limited to: generator hire, emergency sump pumps,
sandbags, mops, buckets, forklift trucks etc.
I. A plan should be made as to the best way to clean up the
site following the flood. This will consider issues such as
potential contamination, clean up material and equipment,
drainage requirements, consent for water release into
waterways, repair of facility and equipment, power up
protocols, communication with authorise and best ways to
restore business and minimise interruptions.
J. The plan should be reviewed and practiced annually.
2Flood Emergency Response Plan
Given careful preparation
and a good flood emergency
plan, the damage effects of
a flood situation can largely
be mitigated.
6666/FloodEmergencyResponsePlan/JUNE2016
QBE European Operations is a trading name of QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited and QBE Underwriting Limited, both of which are authorised by the Prudential
Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
QBE European Operations Plantation Place 30 Fenchurch Street London EC3M 3BD
tel +44 (0)20 7105 4000 QBEeurope.com

3. Floodchecklist
PROPERTY RISK SOLUTIONS
TECHNICAL GUIDE
FLOOD CHECKLIST
PRIOR TO FLOOD SEASON EACH YEAR
Date to be
completed by
Done
Review the site’s pre-prepared Flood Emergency Plan. Include in the review possible external exposures
such as neighbouring facilities or access / egress issues during the flood.
Ensure local flood area protections are in good condition – e.g. walk river banks berm, walls, levees, bridges
and ensure these are in good condition and properly maintained.
Check local culverts, bridges and onsite drainage systems are unobstructed
Check condition of onsite flood protection features and equipment – including hand operated valves
which may have seized or rusted & water removal equipment such as sump pumps. Make sure installation
procedures are well practised.
Check availability of sandbags and essential back up equipment such as diesel generators. Also check
tarpaulins and blankets are in good supply and condition. List the priority areas for protection and ensure
the basics such as proper construction of sandbag walls are well practiced.
Ensure all members of flood emergency team are fully briefed and each knowledgeable of their duties and
responsibilities.
BEFORE THE FLOOD - ON ALERT OF IMMINENT FLOOD CONDITIONS Time needed Done
Assign a person to monitor flood conditions and local conditions from government agencies, local
authorities and on site. Ensure this person has direct communication access to senior management,
operations team and the flood response team.
Ensure sandbags are available and ready to be deployed.
Ensure flood doors and shields are installed at predefined locations.
Check Sump Pumps and water removal equipment are ready, fuelled, and operational.
Cover large stationary machinery and make sure they are anchored securely.
Shut down gas and flammable liquid pipelines
Shut down key electrical supplies to minimise the threat of fire
Relocate to safe areas or higher place:
• On Floor storage in warehouse and yard
• On floor equipment
• Vehicles – cars, trailers, tractors
• Water sensitive materials and equipment – such as drawing stores, files records, computer storage.
Taketimebeforehandtoevaluatewhenthepre-floodseasonactivities
shouldtakeplaceandalsotherealistictimeneededtocarryoutthe
listedactivitieswhenfloodisimminent,thiswillguideyouininitiating
theseactivitiesatthepropertime.

4. PROPERTY RISK SOLUTIONS
FLOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
2Flood Emergency Response Plan
AFTER THE FLOOD - ACTIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FLOOD
Convene a meeting to coordinate action and salvage operations. Assess repair requirements, resources and
business resumption plans / activities.
Check structural integrity and stability of all buildings and structures.
Check and assess all potential contamination situations and conditions. Make plans to clear up before other
work begins.
Remove ponding and standing water on site.
Clean and dry sensitive equipment – these should have been identified for priority treatment in the
emergency plan.
Deploy specialist team to safeguard and make good electrical equipment’s and distribution systems.
Begin de – humidifying operations. Dry wet building structures, materials and insulations.
Ensure good workflow in the removal of wet debris and damaged material.
Ensure all fire protection systems such as sprinkler systems are operational and continue to be so.
Ensure all site safeguards are invoked – such as permit systems and contractor control.
Check the conditions of local structures that may have been affected or damaged by the flood e.g. blocked
culverts, drains, bridges, overhead electrical systems, substations.
Maintain good communication channels to all working parties and ensure al works are coordinated.
BEFORE THE FLOOD - ON ALERT OF IMMINENT FLOOD CONDITIONS Time needed Done
Anchor outdoor tanks or fill them with water or product to prevent them from floating away. Ensure vent
lines on active tanks are extended above maximum anticipated water level
Provide barricades for critical external equipment to prevent damage from floating debris
Lash down portable containers of flammable or combustible liquids.
Check roof, yard or floor drains to ensure they are clear and ensure they are free from debris and blockages
throughout the flood emergency.
Check that backflow preventers on drains are operational to prevent back flow through drains
Ensure Salvage Crew fully staffed, on alert and equipped to take action
Put contractors and equipment suppliers on alert (e.g. emergency diesel hire companies)
Consider adequacy of security and surveillance and increase if necessary
Ensure the ability to maintain fire protection systems and that they are all in an operational state during the
flood emergency e.g. install barriers around sprinkler risers and safeguard foam supplies.
6666/FloodChecklist/JUNE2016
QBE European Operations is a trading name of QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited and QBE Underwriting Limited, both of which are authorised by the Prudential
Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
QBE European Operations Plantation Place 30 Fenchurch Street London EC3M 3BD
tel +44 (0)20 7105 4000 QBEeurope.com

5. Whilstfloodingtosomedegreecanalwaysbearisk,especiallywhere
existingcommercialpremisesaresitedinfloodproneareas,thereare
oftenmeasuresthatcanbetakentoreducetheriskoffloodwaters
enteringbuildingsandtolimitresultantdamagetopropertyand
interruptiontobusiness.
PROPERTY RISK SOLUTIONS
TECHNICAL GUIDE
FLOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE
A structured approach to developing formal flood
emergency response protocols is perhaps the most
effective way of achieving this. This will involve
reviewing a property’s susceptibility to flooding and
identifying actions that can be taken before, during
and following flooding, to prevent or mitigate the
consequences of the event.
Are your premises exposed to the threat
of flood?
In assessing this, it is important to consider the various types of
flooding that could occur:
• River flooding - this happens when a watercourse cannot
cope with the volumes of water draining into it from the
surrounding land and results in waters overtopping its
banks
• Coastal flooding – usually occurs due to a combination of
high tides and storm conditions
• Surface water flooding – this happens when heavy rainfall
exceeds the drainage capacity in a given area
• Sewer flooding – occurs when sewers are overwhelmed by
heavy rainfall or when they become blocked
• Groundwater flooding – occurs when water levels in the
ground rise above surface levels
• Reservoir flooding – although not a frequent occurrence,
failure of a dam or retaining measures could result in large
volumes of water affecting local areas.
What are the chances of your facility
suffering river or coastal flooding?
When considering exposures to a property located within a
known flood zone, it is more likely that a significant loss will
occur as the result of flooding rather than fire.
The probability of flooding is usually expressed as a return
frequency – e.g. a location may be exposed to flooding from
a 1 in 100 year flood event. This does not mean that a location
can suffer flooding only once in a 100 year period, rather it
indicates each and every year there is a 1% chance of flooding.
It is important to remember that because a location lies
outside of predicted flood plains, this does not mean that it
can never flood. Flooding types other than coastal or from
rivers (ie surface water, sewer, groundwater, and reservoir)
may still pose a risk.
Remember
Being located in a 1 in 100 year flood zone does not
mean that flooding will only occur once every 100
years. It means that each and every year there is a 1%
chance of flooding.

6. PROPERTY RISK SOLUTIONS
FLOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
2Flood Emergency Response
Flood emergency planning
Wherever the property lies, flood emergency planning is key to
mitigating the exposure. A suitable flood emergency response
plan should be fully documented and trigger appropriate
checks, safeguards, actions by nominated personnel that should
be taken prior to, immediately preceding, during and following
a flood. It should also trigger regular training of nominated
personnel and periodic review to ensure it remains up to date.
When flooding is imminent
• Put in place any temporary flood defence measures, as
identified in the response plan
• Raise susceptible equipment off the ground
• Relocate stocks to higher positions (eg take stocks from the
lowest tier of racking to higher positions)
• Secure materials/ vessels/ equipment that could be
dislodged and become “battering rams” when pushed by
flood water (pay particular attention to gas bottles and
yard areas)
• Prepare to isolate electrical and other utility supplies.
During a flood:
• On an “if safe to do so” basis, maintain a security presence.
Following flooding:
• Verify buildings are safe to enter
• Establish clean up operations. Remove standing water as
soon as possible
• Check drains remain unblocked, streams / culverts / ditches
etc are clear of obstructions
• Clean, dry and test electrical distribution equipment before
re-energising
• Establish any specialist cleaning requirements for
susceptible equipment as determined necessary during
pre-planning stage
• Establish dehumidification of areas that have
experienced flooding.
Pre-planning steps:
Identify areas where flood waters could easily
enter the building(s). Consider all different types of
flooding, and develop plans / measures to prevent
ingress (both permanent and temporary solutions)
• Identify high value or critical equipment / stocks
that are located in basement areas and if possible
relocate above ground. Raise such equipment /
materials on exposed ground floor areas
• Consider permanent localised protection (eg walls
/ kerbs) around high value equipment
• Avoid holding stocks directly on the floor. For
some susceptible stocks, even a few centimetres of
water could potentially result in significant damage
• Install non-return valves on drains, designed to
prevent back-up
• On a regular basis, check drains remain
unblocked, streams / culverts / ditches etc are
clear of obstructions (check both upstream and
downstream positions)
• Pay particular attention to bridges where debris
may accumulate causing water to back-up
• Regularly verify the functionality of sump pumps
• Keep a stock of equipment / materials needed
to establish temporary flood defences (e.g. sand
bags, temporary ‘slot-in’ barriers etc) and clean/
drying up operations
• Establish a process to receive flood warnings from
government agencies
• For new construction projects, elevate the floor
slab of proposed buildings to above anticipated
flood levels.
Our Risk Management Team would be happy to
review your Flood Emergency Response Plan if you
would like a second opinion.
6834/FloodEmergencyResponse/JULY2016
QBE European Operations is a trading name of QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited and QBE Underwriting Limited, both of which are authorised by the Prudential
Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
QBE European Operations Plantation Place 30 Fenchurch Street London EC3M 3BD
tel +44 (0)20 7105 4000 QBEeurope.com
Guidance and enquiries
Flood Mitigation Checklist
www.qbeeurope.com/documents/riskmanagement/
property/Flood checklist.pdf
Developing a Flood Emergency Response Plan
www.qbeeurope.com/documents/riskmanagement/
property/Developing a Flood Emergency Response Plan.pdf
Guidance and enquiries RS@uk.qbe.com
Information relating to the flood potential in any given area
can be found at the following websites:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk (for England and Wales)
www.sepa.org.uk (for Scotland)
www.floodmaps.ie (for Republic of Ireland)
46.137.120.35/strategicFloodMap (for Northern Ireland)