First of all, you should check the flood risk of the property. Many countries offer online flood hazard maps for this purpose, which are provided by authorities or environmental protection organizations. If you have reason to suspect an increased risk, you can also contact local authorities such as the land registry or the water authority to obtain specific information. If the business is located in an area at risk of flooding, it is also advisable to use the free “NINA” warning app from the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (“Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe” – BBK), which also provides flood warnings.

In the event of a flood warning, production facilities should do the following: Flood the heating system expansion tank, fill and prime the heating tanks, and remove burners and heating pumps. Switch off the electricity and remove the fuse boxes. Electronic devices such as air conditioning computers and electrical machines should be removed or stored in a raised position. Open the doors of cold stores to prevent buoyancy damage. Empty fertilizer tanks should be flooded and plants and hazardous substances should be moved to safe storage.