Make your business more flood ready with help from VICSES
Floodwaters can be destructive. A building’s fixtures, fittings and essential equipment are often among the first casualties of rising waters. Critical documents and data may also be swept away, leaving businesses grappling with significant losses.
The aftermath may involve a long battle with moisture, as cleaning, drying and restoring premises leads to weeks of downtime. For customer-facing businesses, like restaurants and retailers, recovery involves repairing the physical damage while also rebuilding customer confidence.
Understanding how to mitigate flood risks is crucial for any business with a premises. By using the Victoria State Emergency Service’s (VICSES) online Business Floodsafe toolkit, you’re making a great start.
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VICSES can help keep your business get prepared for a flood event
The VICSES Business Floodsafe toolkit is a comprehensive resource offering tips, guides, a checklist and downloadable template to help you assess your business’s flood risk and plan accordingly.
Jo Kegg, who at the time of this interview was the VICSES Emergency Management Planning and Risk Officer, emphasised the importance of flood planning. ‘Businesses need to find out what the flood risk is in their area. They can speak to their local VICSES unit, Catchment Management Authority and local council. And they should tap into local knowledge by talking to business owners and other members of their communities.'
Jo continued, ‘Once you understand your flood risk, ask yourself how you’re protecting your people, business and property. Early preparation will help lower the risk of flooding to your business and also help you to recover more quickly after a flood event.’
In Castlemaine, Victoria, business owner Phil McConachy was able to reduce his business risk by working with VICSES and other organisations to plan and prepare. Check out the video as he describes how he was able to achieve this.
[Voiceover]
The Mill in Castlemaine was established in 1875 as a woollen mill. Phil McConachy purchased the large site in 2014 with a view to transform it into a self-sufficient business space. The area is now enjoyed by over 40 new and existing small businesses. The site is located along the banks of Barker's Creek near the Botanical Gardens. This area is subject to flash flooding affecting approximately 1/3 of the site. When flooding occurs, the creek rises and descends rapidly, impacting on The Mill.
[Phil McConachy speaking]
We had some photos taken during the floods of 2010 and 2011. Plus, previous employees for the woollen mills liked to come and talk to us about those sort of things and we spoke to the Catchment Management Authority and the SES to get an idea of heights of flooding.
[Voiceover]
Knowledge of the flooding prompted Phil to develop strategies to reduce the risk to the multiple businesses and tenants on site to ensure they are protected.
[VICSES representative speaking]
Phil was referred to the business Flood Safe toolkit available on the SES web site to help develop The Mill’s flood plan. Businesses should develop a flood safe plan to help them prepare for before, during and after an emergency event. Plans help you to take ownership of the flood risk. It's good to involve other stakeholders such as emergency services, local government, staff members of your business and insurance companies in developing the plan as each can provide valuable information and have an interest in the continuity of your business.
[North Central Catchment Management Authority representative speaking]
Phil approached us at the North-Central Catchment Management Authority as we were able to assist him with developing his flood plain with information and data from our studies and research in the area.They also have flood specialists so they can provide technical advice practical advice to help business owners better manage their risk.
[Voiceover]
With guidance from both VICSES and the CMA, Phil has developed an extensive and well-thought-out flood safe plan. To further protect the businesses, Phil has built low-level brick walls to surround parts of the property and purpose-built flood barriers at openings which can be installed at any time. The walls and barriers are built above the height of the highest recorded flood here in 2011 to ensure adequate protection. The barriers protected the property during a small flood in 2016, allowing The Mill to be up and running again within 24 hours.
[Phil McConachy speaking]
Since the 2016 flood we've made some minor changes to our flood safety plan one of them being the installation of a sensor system in the storm water drain that tells us when the creek’s coming up by SMS.
[Voiceover]
The Mill is largely self-sufficient in its response to flood events and does not need to rely on assistance from VICSES or the local council to protect the businesses during those times.
[Phil McConachy speaking]
Part of the ethos of the site is to be self-sufficient, not just in our flood safety plan but in power and water as best as possible. So what we've done is implement something that we don't need to rely on any emergency services. And that's partly based around the fact that we can look after ourselves. I’d prefer the SES to be helping somebody who can't help themselves.
[Voiceover]
VICSES volunteers will of course respond as best as possible to all calls for assistance but it's great to see local businesses like Phil's sharing in that responsibility and owning their own risk. His actions are only going to help VICSES when the waters do rise.
[VICSES representative speaking]
VICSES can assist with developing a business flood safe plan through our website. There is a tool kit specifically available for business owners that talks about filling out the template, hints and tips and also local contacts that can assist you. The template for the business flood safe plan is available on the SES website at www.ses.vic.gov.au.
[Voiceover]
Get ready. Have a plan. Know what to do.
Does my AAMI business insurance policy cover flood?
Yes. As of 7 December, 2023, all new and renewed AAMI Business Insurance policies commencing or renewing on or after 7 December 2023 have cover for loss or damage caused by flood included in the Property Damage section^.
If you have an existing AAMI Business Insurance policy and want to add flood cover, please call one of our friendly business insurance specialists on 13 22 44.
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Actions or movements of the sea and storm surge are not covered. Other exclusions apply.
^ We do not insure for flood in the first 72 hours of commencing a new policy or adding/changing the property damage section of your policy for the purposes of cover caused by flood. For more information on flood coverage and other exclusions, please review the SPDS.
Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as AAMI Business Insurance. Any advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available.
The information is intended to be of general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon the information. Please make your own enquiries.