Is Your Business Hurricane Ready?

9/11/2019 (Permalink)

Destruction from Hurricane Dorian 2019

Significant portions of the United States are at risk for the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes. It is important that a business throughout the country understand the risks and potential impacts and prepare accordingly for a Hurricane.  The National Hurricane Center reports the greatest threat to life and property along the coasts are storm surge and large waves caused by hurricanes. Inland flooding accounts for more than 50 percent of hurricane-related deaths each year. Furthermore hurricane force winds and windborne debris can destroy buildings and mobile homes and pose a major risk to people and property.

Preparing your Employees and business is the best way to diffuse the impact of a Hurricane or Tropical Storm.  Listed below are some steps for you as the owner and your employees to learn and practice:

1. Prepare A Plan and Practice It! – Plan an overall strategy that extends to all parts of your business.  Back up data and relocate equipment to an offsite location.  Make sure that all data is correct on your employees so they can be reached easily.  Remember that Practice makes Perfect.  Your plan needs to be practiced and tested.
2. To remain competitive in today’s business society, businesses depend on information technology. Without access to data, business quickly comes to a screeching halt.  Since there is advance warning when a hurricane approaches, it is important to transport your data quickly and at the first sign of trouble.
3. Protect Your Site - Ways to do this include Uninterruptible Power Supply (batteries and generators), backup water source and a supply of gasoline powered pumps to keep the lower levels of the facility clear of flood waters.
4. Operate Remotely - Employees may be unable to leave their homes in a state of emergency or may be unwilling to leave their families. It is very important to plan for this scenario in which your business facility is operational but the employees are unable or unwilling to get there. One way to prepare for this contingency is to develop a method to operate the critical components of your business remotely.
5. Establish an On Site Support Plan – Prepare a specially selected team of employees to provide support for the business.  This would include employees on site and others to oversee the homes and family members of those that remained on site.
6. Secure A Recovery Services Provider – They can continue doing business for you during your outage
7. Declare Early – Activate your recovery plan.  Do not hesitate and wait to long to put in place what you have practiced. 
8. Implement an Effective Communications Strategy - Communications are important to any business entity. In the event of a pending hurricane, it becomes even more crucial. Communications are needed to coordinate emergency activities, to implement the recovery/contingency plan, to warn employees of impending danger.
9. Expect the Unexpected - Remain flexible and adaptable.  Prepare, Plan, and Practice

 The key if to prepare for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials.