Flood Emergency Planning Checklist


Floods are among the most common and widespread of all disasters, and they continue to grow in frequency and severity. While there is no substitute for a comprehensive flood contingency plan, the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State University offers the following steps as a guideline to help mitigate loss in the event of unexpected flooding.

Remove from site:

  • Tax records - three years minimum
  • Insurance policies
  • Human resources records
  • Current supplier, customer, and employee contact lists
  • Payroll provider and financial institution contact lists
  • Accounts receivable and payable
  • Lease agreements or property title
  • Photo inventory of facility, equipment, materials, and finished goods
  • Detailed list of all materials and finished goods*
  • Detailed list of capital equipment*
  • Detailed list of office furniture and equipment, software, etc.*
  • Servers and computers (if you cannot move computers, pull the hard drives)*
  • Valuable equipment—high producers and/or those that are older where it is difficult to find replacement motors that match footprint and other components

*Include information regarding brand name, where/when purchased, etc; this will be critical for insurance filing and loss verification

Task list:

  • Shut off all power before you leave the premises
  • Remove controllers and motors from equipment; if not possible, remove batteries from controllers
  • Raise all machine heads to their highest level
  • Retract all hydraulic and air cylinders
  • Review inventory racking; if impossible to remove inventory from the building; move high-dollar inventory to top and lower-dollar inventory to bottom
  • Protect your high-dollar equipment, tooling, and parts
  • Move consigned items and customer-owned items to a protected place
  • Take advantage of hoists to elevate items.
  • Grease machine surfaces that are prone to rust, especially bearings
  • Identify a rallying point/communication plan for employees, customers, and suppliers
  • Begin identifying alternate office/manufacturing space


Other considerations:

  • Communication is key—identify the official voice of the company
  • Remember that utilities and resources may be rationed or not available
  • Critical items will sell out quickly—e.g., generators, gloves, boots, masks
  • Bank safety deposit boxes—arrange access to your critical documents