The nightmare of a damaged office is something that you often think will never affect you, and then one day you get the call. Freak weather events are one of the key reasons your office can be damaged, and fire is one of the other most common causes. We’re going to take a look at what you need to do in the hours immediately after the worst happens. That way, you’ll be prepared and ready to react in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Hire an expert to drain the flood water

Flooding will cause all sorts of damage, and can be a special cause for concern if you have a large amount of electrical equipment. Carpets and internal walls can be permanently damaged, and your decor will often need to be done from scratch. But what you need to do is put all of that to one side to begin with. If you can find an expert in flood restoration, you’ll be heading in the right direction. Look for someone who has experience in working on properties like yours, and it’ll be taken care of in no time at all.

Have someone take a look at your roof in case of high winds

High winds will cause chaos with slate roofs, so you need to have them checked at the earliest opportunity. Don’t wait until you see dozens of slates smash onto the road or you notice a damp patch on the ceiling. You need to be proactive if you want to stay on top of things, so get in touch with a roofer as soon as the winds die down. They know exactly what to look for and will be able to quote accordingly for their services. It’s then up to you to get them booked in as soon as possible so that you keep your office in top condition.

Install surge protectors for lightning strikes

Surge protectors are essential if you’re running a lot of electrical equipment, so make sure you have them installed as a matter of course. It’s all about having the tools in place that will mitigate any natural disasters so that your business can keep running with the bare minimum of costly downtime. Don’t wait for a lightning strike to cause thousands of pounds worth of damage. Install surge protectors for less than the price of one of your PC monitors.

Fire doors will help safeguard your office

Fire damage is one of the most destructive, and your office may not be salvageable afterwards. If it is, then you need to invest in snap shut fire doors. They will automatically close when a fire starts so that it finds it much harder to spread from room to room. They also come complete with heat-activated smoke seals around the edges. This is really important as smoke damage can easily ruin walls and ceilings and result in costly decorating bills in the aftermath.

Test your fire alarms regularly for peace of mind

Fire alarms need to be tested regularly and realistic fire drills need to be carried out that involve all members of staff. Often it will feel like one of those jobs that can wait, but you must stay on top of fire safety as a matter of urgency. Whilst lightning strikes and flooding are relatively rare, fires can strike at any time with deadly results. Take pride in your proactive approach and you’ll be able to mitigate risk as well as respond effectively when the worst does happen.

Make sure you have insurance in place

No office should operate without contents insurance because it’s what ensures you get paid the cost of replacing all of your equipment. For a small monthly outgoing, you will be able to sleep with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have everything taken care of.

When you come to lodge a claim, it’s vital that you include as much detail as possible. Make sure that you have included everything you have lost, and claim for the maximum amount possible. Just because you bought something for £300 8 years ago doesn’t mean that it will still be available at that price today.

Hire a cleaner to salvage as much as you can

A cleaner is one of the last things you might think about, but you still need one. Once the big jobs have been taken care of, you need to see what’s salvageable and what’s not. Hire a team that can be in and out in a single afternoon, but only do so once you’ve had the office signed off as safe. It’s not right to ask others to work in a potentially unsafe environment, so don’t take the risk.