Businesses in the north-east have been urged to prepare themselves to cope with flooding after a national study found that 5,600 business in the region are at risk.
According to the recent Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) National Flood Risk Assessment, an estimated 29,300 properties in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are at risk of flooding, whether through surface water, swollen rivers or coastal flooding.
Around 5,600 of those are businesses.
Reports suggest the average cost of flooding to a business is £82,000.
In response, Business in the Community (BITC) is urging businesses across the north-east to assess how prepared they are for the impact of flooding to avoid thousands of pounds of damage and distress.
When Storm Frank hit Scotland around Hogmanay in December 2015, it caused widespread flooding throughout the region.
In Ballater, more than 300 properties were affected when the River Dee burst its banks.
BITC chief executive Amanda Mackenzie said: “Severe weather can have a devastating impact and overwhelming financial costs for any business.
“Extreme weather might be unpredictable but your plan of action shouldn’t be.
“This week is an opportunity for businesses to assess their resilience, learn how to minimise the impact of flooding and protect that business you have spent years building up.”
For more information about how to protect your business from flooding, visit: www.bitc.org.uk/wouldyoubeready/extreme-weather