2017 Tidal Surge: How to be prepared for next time
Published on in CommercialOn January 13th 2017, residents of North Norfolk were advised to take drastic action. Reports of high tides set to push sea waters towards the east coast were forecast, potentially bringing waves crashing over coastal defences. Fears were that they might reach similar levels to 2013, when water levels exceeded those of the devastating floods of 1953. Areas of greatest concern included Salthouse, Clay-next-the-sea, Walcott, Yarmouth and Cromer. The Environment agency issued 42 flood alerts including 12 severe warnings across the county.
5000 homes were evacuated in Great Yarmouth alone. Tonnes of sand bags helped construct makeshift defences against sea waters and local businesses were recommended to protect their premises as best as possible.
We recommend businesses, especially those residing in areas prone to flooding, have a checklist of actions that prepares them for the worst. This includes:
- Unplugging electrical items
- Moving stock to higher levels
- Make important documents watertight
- Create a list of emergency contact numbers (including out of hours)
By being prepared and taking some simple steps you can dramatically reduce the impact a flood has on your business, reducing not only the disruption but also the financial loss.
The storm caused waves to breach Cromer’s sea wall and destroy a dozen beach huts, and rip up a section of Cromer’s promenade. The town’s award-winning 116 year-old pier took a battering too. Despite the damage, it is unlikely repairs will reach the £3.1 million bill following the 2013 tidal surge.
If you are concerned about future threats caused by storm or flooding to your business, wish to discuss your insurance needs, or would like more information on anything raised in this article, please contact Hugh J Boswell on 01603 626155.