Is Your Business Ready For 2020 Storm Season?

6/16/2020 (Permalink)

Prepare your business for hurricane season and minimize disruption.

Preparing your business way before an anticipated storm is essential to survival.

Since the beginning of 2020, many businesses have endured the challenges and impacts of the current pandemic. With the pandemic still at large and hurricane season underway, little room is left for some business owners to overcome any potential damage caused by a hurricane. Without a plan, 50% of businesses have closed following a hurricane. While this number is daunting, that percentage can be lessened with a proper storm season preparedness plan.

This year’s storm season will be extremely active and will likely see above average number of storms. This does not mean that all storms will become major hurricanes or even hit Florida, however, based on numbers alone having an emergency plan for your employees and business is vital.

• Ensure all employees have emergency kits and evacuation plans. Talk to your employees about planning for a hurricane during COVID-19, ensuring their kits as well as evacuation plans have been adjusted. This means including personal safety items like masks, gloves, sanitizers or soaps in their kits. It also means considering social distancing when creating their evacuation plans.
• Create a plan for your business that includes:
  • Documenting all important contents.
  • Taking before and after photos of the interior and exterior of your business for insurance purposes.
  • Knowing where all your main shut off and valves are. This will come in handy before a hurricane if any major utility will need to be shut off to prevent damages.
  • Having a list of important company contacts, vendor contacts, and chain of commands. Include in your vendor contact a company like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach in the case you will need mitigation or restoration services after the storm.
  • Having the proper materials to secure important equipment or contents prior to a storm, like windows, computers, doors and more.
• Review your insurance policy to ensure you have the proper coverage. Talk to your insurance agent in the case that additional coverage is needed in the case of any damage or loss.

If you are unsure of where to start or how to properly plan, check out our complimentary Emergency Ready Profile. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach’s ERP provides a guideline for your business in preparation for and in case of emergency. The ERP has an easy use to interface, documenting all the vital information your business will need. The ERP's goal is to give business owners the power to quickly mitigate damage and minimize any business interruptions during an emergency event. 

While the timeline for the next major storm is unknown, its occurrence is imminent. Are you ready?