Disaster Recovery Journal Spring 2023

their assets. No longer do “100-year” floods happen every 100 years. Instead, regions can experience two of these rare and extreme weather events every few years. Regardless of whether a business is located in a flood plain or not, no organiza tion is immune from a flooding disaster as sea levels and water temperatures continue to rise. Even the traditionally “desert” states like Arizona and Nevada can experi ence monumental monsoons, leaving them in dire straits. To adequately prepare, respond, and then recover from severe flood events, the acronym FLOOD provides helpful guid ance as businesses prepare for the spring weather and the likelihood of heavy rain fall moving into the forecast. FACILITATE – At the first mention of an impending flooding event, it’s impera tive to facilitate clear and frequent com munication with facility managers and those in charge of personnel. Doing so at this point will ensure they are familiar with what actions to take and when. Providing clear and frequent communication at this stage is key to minimizing loss. Even before a weather event appears on the radar screen, leadership should consider facilitating regular tabletop exer cises and drills. These exercises will help each team member know what their roles and responsibilities are during a flooding emergency. Consider holding these exer cises every quarter with the changing of the seasons. LEVERAGE – If an enterprise has invested in a private weather company, take advantage of its services and exper tise well ahead of a flooding event to make better and more informed decisions. Creating strategic partnerships with private weather companies is a growing trend among businesses, especially in the midst of a changing climate. Staffed by trained meteorologists, private weather companies take forecasts from the National Weather Service and combine them with data from private networks and other agencies to create tailored forecasts specific to individual businesses and loca -

Using the FLOOD Acronym to Safeguard People, Property, and Other Assets By SHANNON COPELAND A mong the weather head lines in 2022 was the disastrous flooding in Eastern Kentucky. The “perfect storm” of adverse conditions led to tremendous damage and loss of life. Continuous rain led to flash flooding, leaving the grounds saturated, and creeks and rivers at record highs. relentless Mother Nature can really be in destroying entire communities, homes, and businesses in just a matter of days. Numerous factors play into flood development, including precipitation, snowmelt, topography, and soil satura tion. Flooding doesn’t just happen in close proximity to a body of water. Flash floods can happen anywhere when an area expe riences a large amount of rainfall over a short period of time.

Floods are slow-moving disasters and wreak havoc, destroy communities, and decimate all infrastructure, includ ing water, cellular, internet, electricity, roads, and bridges. While sometimes they are predictable, a flood event can often have disastrous consequences without much warning. Floods demonstrate how

‘100-year Floods’ are Becoming the Norm

In the midst of a changing climate, flooding events have the potential to become a more regular occurrence, which means enterprises must think about the ramifications to protect their people and

40 DISASTER RECOVERY JOURNAL | SPRING 2023

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