An underestimated hazard: How to protect your facilities from flooding
Safety precautions for your horticultural business
Effective action to reduce the risks from flooding
The most important step in preventing flood damage is to identify and minimize potential hazards. With a comprehensive risk assessment and the support of our experts, you can effectively reduce the risk of damage caused by flooding.
Find out below how you can protect your business from flooding.
Clear structures
Clear structures
Storing materials
Storing materials
Protectic technical equipment
Protectic technical equipment
Train your staff
Train your staff
Comprehensive emergency plan
Comprehensive emergency plan
Regular maintenance
Regular maintenance
Early warning systems
Early warning systems
Flood protection systems
Flood protection systems
Quick flood risk assessment and protective measures
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.
Recommendations for production facilities and 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.
Share the risks: Check your insurance cover
Even if all the above measures are observed, there will always be residual risks. These can be covered with insurance solutions tailored to your business.
Our insurance products include protection against flooding for:
- Greenhouses
- Polytunnels
- Machines, technical equipment and appliances
- Plant cultivation
- Company buildings and sales facilities
- Operating equipment and supplies
- Damage due to business interruption after a flood
Other possible risks and causes of flooding.
Total loss of
production
Plants and crops may be completely destroyed.
Structural damage and water ingress may render the building unusable.
Leaked chemicals such as protective agents can have a long-term harmful effect on the soil.
Water may irreparably damage expensive electrical machines and appliances.
Your contact person is looking forward to hearing from you.
You would like to report loss or damages?
Contact your risk advisor or submit a claim using our online form. Once we have received the notification of your claim, we will process it and contact you as quickly as possible.
In the event of a claim, we are here to help.
In the event of a claim, you need your insurance company to process your claim swiftly and unbureaucratically and provide immediate assistance.
Three things our members can count on:
Initial damage assessment within 48 hours.
Knowledge shared is knowledge doubled.
Focus topics: Useful information and helpful tips on horticulture.
