The first step to being prepared for a flood is to understand your risks; the second is to use that information to create a flood plan. The nine questions below will help you begin to identify those risks, and your answers to them will serve as the building blocks of your flood plan.
- What are the obvious flooding risks from external sources (nearby dams, bodies of water, practice location sitting downhill)?
- What are the possible impacts of these risks on the practice?
- Where would floodwaters naturally flow in this area?
- What contaminants could be in the floodwaters based on the types of businesses in the area?
- Does the practice have all the tools and resources to protect the infrastructure and its contents from flooding?
- Can power be switched off quickly if a flood should occur to minimize damage?
- Has a flood response team been created within the business?
- Has a flood action sheet been created and disseminated within the hospital?
- Have the staff been adequately trained?