FM News

Dry spell, wet warning

If it feels like this summer has been one for the record books, that's because it has. Five heatwaves, the driest July on record for England and Wales, and over 70% of England now in drought. Wherever you are, you'll have felt it too. Brown gardens, hosepipe bans, that odd sense of relief every time a cloud rolled in. It's been a summer everyone's talked about, whether you run a school, an office, a nursery, a church, or you're just trying to keep your own garden alive.

Now the weather is turning, and fast. The Met Office has issued yellow thunderstorm warnings across Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and northern England, with flash flooding, travel disruption and power cuts all expected. After weeks of dry ground, that rain isn't going to soak in the way you'd hope.

Why dry weather makes flooding worse, not better

It sounds backwards, but parched ground is part of the problem. Months of heat and no rain leave soil compacted and almost water repellent. Instead of soaking in, heavy rain runs straight off, which is exactly the kind of setup that leads to flash flooding even from an ordinary downpour. Add in gutters and drains that haven't had much to do all summer, and you've got a recipe for water finding its way somewhere it shouldn't.

What this means if you're responsible for a building

If you look after a site, whether that's a school gearing up for September, an office, a nursery or a place of worship, this is worth ten minutes of your attention this week. You don't need to be a facilities expert to spot the obvious risks. A few honest questions are a good place to start.

When did anyone last check the gutters? Are the drains and downpipes clear, or is there a chance they've quietly clogged up over a dry summer? Is there any sign of roof damage that's gone unnoticed because it simply hasn't rained enough to show it? And if the power does go out, as the Met Office is warning it might, do you know what happens next in your building?

None of this needs to be complicated. It's the small, proactive checks that make the biggest difference when the weather turns like this.

A simple maintenance checklist worth running through

Clear gutters and downpipes so water has somewhere to go. Check drains and external drainage aren't blocked from a dry summer. Look over the roof for any damage that dry weather may have masked. Test emergency lighting and backup power in case of a cut. Make sure any known problem areas (low points, old drainage) are on your radar.

If you can tick these off, you're already ahead of most.

Being proactive beats being reactive, every time

We talk a lot about the difference between reactive and proactive maintenance, and this week is a good example of why it matters. Reactive works, sorting out a flood after it's happened, is stressful, costly and disruptive. Proactive maintenance, the ten minute check, the seasonal inspection, is quiet, unglamorous, and usually goes unnoticed. Until a week like this one, when it's the thing that saves you a very bad day.

You don't have to overhaul everything. Just start somewhere.

Where Elevate FM comes in

This is exactly the kind of moment facilities management exists for. Whether you need a proactive check before the weather turns, or you're caught out and need a fast reactive response, that's what we're here for.

If this week has made you think twice about your building, that's a good instinct to listen to. Have a walk round, run through the checklist, and if you'd rather have a second pair of eyes on it, we're always happy to help.

📞 0330 128 9898 📧info@elevatefm.co.uk 🌐www.elevatefm.co.uk

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