When it comes to how to prepare a business for a hurricane it can seem daunting and overwhelming. Hurricane season is just around the corner, with projections showing that we will have a higher-than-average year for hurricanes. It’s important for any business owners to take a step back and re-evaluate how prepared they are for any natural disaster event. Whether you live in Texas or Florida hurricanes can present a huge problem. And we aren’t just talking about those who live on the coast. Hurricanes can have further-reaching effects with violent storms and torrential downpours. Be safe, smart, and ready for what could come this year. Here’s how to prepare a business for a hurricane so you stay safe this year:
- Preparation is Key
- Work Remotely
- Practice
- Consider Using Bulk Fuel or a Generator
Preparation is Key
Even though hurricane season is closing in, that doesn’t mean there isn’t time to prepare. Thoughtful preparation will be your number one tool when it comes to preparing a business for a hurricane. Establish things like:
- An evacuation plan.
- Backing up items on a secure drive.
- Creating a checklist of items, you may need in case of a shelter in place (and purchase those items).
- Contact your insurance and make sure you are covered for floods. You may need to purchase this separately.
- Place barriers around your building to protect from debris. Place plywood on windows, etc.
Creating these items and working out the details can be super beneficial and save lives. Having a routine evacuation plan helps your employees know exactly what to do in an emergency. In the event that you cannot leave your office, you’ll also have supplies such as first aid kits and food ready to go. Securing your data is also important for hurricane preparation. There are tons of cloud drive storage companies to choose from. More than likely at some point the power may go out. Cloud drive storage can help you save your data without having to physically store it. That’s one less thing you have to worry about during recovery. Insurance will also help you recover if you have water or storm damage. However, you need to make sure your policy covers rain and water damage and for how much.
Work Remotely
Due to the pandemic, more people are working from home than ever before. Because of the advancements in technology, companies don’t need office space to stay working. When an emergency situation happens, it’s going to be best for you to let your employees go home and shelter with their families. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t recover quickly. Adapting your company functions to allow people to work from home can help you recover faster. You won’t have to wait to start business again if the office is damaged. Instead, your workers can stay at home and stay out of the bad weather.
More importantly, adapting to this scenario now can give you a lot of flexibility in the future. You may find that you can downsize your facilities or design them with other purposes in mind. Being flexible and looking for ways to innovate can help you not skip a beat. If you want to know how to prepare a business for a hurricane, you need to start thinking about how you can complete business tasks under different circumstances.
Practice
As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” you don’t want your company to be caught unaware when a storm does arise. That doesn’t mean just having a checklist or even just having a plan. You also want to have training about what staff members should do during an emergency situation. Employees will be safer if they have a designated plan to follow and an area where they can shelter in place. Furthermore, it is in your best interest to act quickly so workers can go home and be with their loved ones. That way they can prepare for a hurricane with their own families, and you won’t be liable for something happening.
Consider Using Bulk Fuel or a Generator
When it comes to getting your business up and running after a natural disaster there are a couple of ways to do this. An emergency bulk fuel provider can help deliver fuel during an emergency situation, and make sure you are prepared beforehand. You also won’t be subjected to higher gas prices, which is common after a natural disaster. You could also purchase a full-time generator to keep the lights on at your company. With a generator, you can get back to work and compete while your competition is lagging. Your company won’t have to wait on the authorities to bring power back. Some companies can even offer bulk fuel and emergency clean-up services!
Are you considering how your company can be protected from hurricane damage? Want to learn more about how to prepare a business for a Hurricane? Moffitt Services can help you be prepared with our emergency bulk fuel response, and can help you get back on the road! Contact us today to find out how we can help you!
