Paving over, a lack of green spaces and increased use of basements, is piling pressure on London’s antiquated sewage system, contributing to the rise in surface water flooding.

Ways to protect your home or business from flooding:

• Check your flood risk –assess the long-term flood risk in your area and sign up for flood warnings.
• Protect your property – take action to make your business or home more resilient to flooding. This can reduce the impact of floodwaters and help you return to business sooner. Actions range from cost-free measures such as shifting expensive equipment to higher floors and regularly backing up data to moving plug sockets higher up and investing in non-return valves, to stop sewers backing up.
• Prepare a flood plan – if your business is in a flood prone area, do what you can to prepare for a flood now. This can include drafting a flood plan, so you have crucial information to hand, such as key locations for electricity cut off, and a list of actions if a flood is imminent, such as moving stock or computer servers.
• Write a business continuity plan – make sure you factor in climate shocks such as floods into your business continuity plan. Having a plan in place can help you prepare for the unexpected and keep your business running if disaster strikes.

Source: Zurich