When hurricane season is around the corner, the best thing you can do for your business is to be prepared. Fortunately, hurricanes and tropical storms never come unannounced. There’s usually adequate time for you to prepare your mitigation and response plan.
In general, businesses within 50 miles of a shoreline tend to have a greater risk of hurricane-related property damage and loss than those further inland. However, even if your business is more than 50 miles from the coast, it is still a good idea to take precautions. In 2018, for example, Hurricane Florence traveled more than 100 miles inland with winds of more than 90 MPH.
Here are six important ways you can prepare your business and employees for a hurricane:
1. Establish a Disaster Plan and Emergency Contact List
Create an emergency business response and continuity plan. Your plan should include various plans for different levels of hurricane impact, gathering records of employee, supplier and vendor contact information. One of the most important elements to include is a recovery plan for after the storm passes.
2. Review Insurance Policies
The best time to figure out your insurance coverage is not in the wake of a major storm. Review your policies now and familiarize yourself with how to file a claim in case after a disaster strikes.
Most standard property insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for floods and hurricanes. If you think your business may be at risk for storm damage, contact your insurance professional and update your policies. Ask about adding flood riders to your commercial building policy.
In addition, consider business interruption insurance, which can replace the income you are unable to earn if you’re forced to shut down because of a covered event.
3. Take an Inventory of Your Business Equipment
Create your inventory using paper, a laptop/tablet or a smartphone app specially designed for taking a property inventory. Photos and videos (both interior and exterior) can provide useful backup after a storm, when insurance adjusters are making a record of your losses.
4. Secure Your Building or Office Space
If your building has exterior glass frontage, clear out those sections as much as possible. Cover all windows and doors on at least the first floor with shutters, plywood or paneling. Brace doorways against floodwaters with sandbags or heavy plastic sheeting and duct tape.
Unplug all electrical equipment, including refrigerators, coffee makers, calculators, fax machines, printers, copy machines, computers, phones, cable TV, etc.
Remove and secure any swinging or portable outdoor signs. Secure all loose objects, such as potted plants and trash cans, that might cause damage (or be damaged) during strong winds.
Check drains, gutters, and downspouts to ensure they are clear and able to drain off the heavy rain that usually accompanies a hurricane. Clogged drains could cause roof collapse from the weight of accumulated water.
Additionally, interior damage can occur if water on the roof becomes deep enough to cover vent pipes and seep inside the building. If you have business vehicles, move them into a garage or park them as closely together as possible.
5. Back up Your Data Off-Site
Make sure you have an updated off-site backup of all crucial business-related data. It could be on an external hard drive or kept in cloud storage. This will help preserve valuable data if there’s physical damage to your business.
6. Protect Your Employees
Your employees are your biggest asset, so give them adequate time to secure their homes and make personal preparations. Encourage them to stock up on necessities and develop a personal emergency plan to protect themselves and their loved ones. Establish a messaging system to provide every employee with important storm-related information.
Richland-Knowles Insurance Agency is here to help you protect the business you have built. One of the most important ways to prepare your business for a hurricane is to meet with your insurance professional. We are ready to review your insurance coverages, discuss your disaster recovery plan and make sure you have the steps in place to make sure your business is not negatively impacted by the next hurricane. Give us a call at 908-273-7100 or email us at Information@RichlandKnowles.com if you have any questions.