El Nino storms are expected to drench much of the nation between December and March.
Weather experts are cautioning small businesses to safeguard their workplaces against potential flooding. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Association predicts unprecedented rainfall and flooding could hit areas in central and Southern California, across Texas, to Florida and up the East Coast to southern New England.
Want to see how El Nino works? Click here
Consider: When record rainfall and catastrophic flooding hit South Carolina in October, it ravaged small businesses in Columbia and neighboring cities. Most businesses didn’t anticipate the the onslaught — 17 inches in Columbia, up to 27 inches in other parts of the state in just over 24 hours. 
A natural disaster such as flooding can lead to a loss of income that forces businesses to shut down. About 40 percent of businesses don’t reopen in the wake of a natural disaster because of exorbitant costs, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Experts recommend these 5 steps to protect your small business and assets from a flood. 

1. Assess your risk

As a small business owner, it’s important to determine your chance of flooding. The FEMA website, floodsmart.gov, features a One-Step Flood Risk Profile where businesses can enter their address and determine their flood risk.

2. Consider purchasing flood insurance

If you find your business is in a designated flood risk area, investing in flood insurance can protect you against devastating financial losses. Lindsey Hart, spokesperson at the California Department of Insurance, says flood insurance is only available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), floodsmart.gov.
“Even a couple inches of water can cause thousands of dollars of damage,” Hart says. “Typically there’s a 30-day waiting period from date of purchase before the policy goes into effect, so it’s wise to buy a plan before the winter storms hit.”
See also: 6 tips on how to shop for flood insurance
Having an insurance policy can also help small businesses to financially stay afloat. Between 2010 to 2014, the NFIP estimated the average commercial flood claim was nearly $89,000.
For commercial structures, the NFIP maximum flood insurance policy is $500,000. If more insurance is needed, small business owners are encouraged to talk to their agent about surplus lines coverage. Flood insurance covers physical damage to your property and most possessions, but it’s important to check with your insurance agent to see specifically what your plan covers.

3. Document your inventory

Experts also recommend that small businesses prepare for floods by using their smart phone to do a business inventory and document their belongings, then store this information in their cloud for easy access after a storm