Strategies corporations employ in anticipation of future flood catastrophes.
## AGCS Checklist for Business Preparedness and Recovery After Extreme Weather Events
In light of the recent flooding disaster in Western Germany, businesses are urged to prepare for extreme weather events. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has released a checklist to help businesses prepare for such events, particularly focusing on flood scenarios.
### Pre-Event Preparation
Businesses should develop a comprehensive emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, communication protocols, and roles and responsibilities for staff. Regular inspections of roofs, walls, windows, and drainage systems are essential to ensure they can withstand heavy rainfall and reduce flood risk. Clearing debris from roofs, gutters, and around building perimeters is also crucial to prevent water accumulation and facilitate proper runoff during storms.
Where possible, critical assets such as electrical systems, servers, and valuable inventory should be elevated to minimize water damage. Backing up business data and documents offsite or in the cloud is also advisable to prevent loss during flood events. Businesses should review their insurance coverage to ensure that it covers flood damage and business interruption, and understand the claims process.
### During the Event
During extreme weather events, businesses should continuously monitor for leaks, fire, structural damage, and rising water levels. Assign staff to oversee critical areas, and activate evacuation or shelter-in-place procedures as needed. If safe, take steps to prevent unauthorized entry or looting during and immediately after the event.
### Post-Event Recovery
After the event, businesses should conduct a thorough assessment of property, equipment, and inventory to document losses for insurance claims. They should secure the premises to prevent further damage, notify their insurance provider as soon as possible to begin the claims process, and engage professional restoration services if necessary.
Businesses should review subrogation potential with their insurer to identify if third parties may be liable for any damages, which could support recovery efforts. They should gradually resume business activities, prioritizing critical functions, and leverage their business continuity plan to manage supply chain and staffing challenges.
After recovery, businesses should review what worked and what didn’t, and update emergency, continuity, and mitigation plans based on lessons learned.
### Additional Considerations for Floods
Businesses should be aware of their property’s elevation relative to floodplains and historical flood levels. They should consider installing flood barriers, sump pumps, or backflow valves if they are in a high-risk area. Businesses should also engage with local authorities on flood risk management and emergency response coordination.
While AGCS emphasizes planning, inspection, and continuity, there is no publicly available, formal “AGCS flood checklist” in the search results. However, the above steps reflect industry best practices supported by AGCS’s catastrophe management approach and are applicable to businesses facing flood and other extreme weather risks. For a company-specific checklist, direct consultation with AGCS or your insurance broker is recommended.
[1] Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). (2021). AGCS Flood Checklist. [Online]. Available: [https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/extreme-weather/flood-checklist](https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/extreme-weather/flood-checklist)
[2] Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). (2021). AGCS Business Continuity Planning. [Online]. Available: [https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/business-continuity-planning](https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/business-continuity-planning)
[3] Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). (2021). AGCS Catastrophe Management. [Online]. Available: [https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/catastrophe-management](https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/catastrophe-management)
[4] Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). (2021). AGCS Subrogation. [Online]. Available: [https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/subrogation](https://www.agcs.allianz/en/risk-knowledge/risk-management-topics/subrogation)
- In their emergency plan, businesses could include contingencies for the impact of extreme weather events on other scientific fields, such as environmental science, to better understand and mitigate the environmental consequences of flooding.
- After recovering from a flood event, businesses might consider diversifying into areas of finance and business, particularly those that focus on green and sustainable practices, as a way to adapt to a changing climate and lessen their future exposure to such events.
