Preparing Your Business for a Storm

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

A Severe Weather Plan can help you prepare for an approaching hurricane or another severe weather event. Make sure everyone in your business, especially your leadership team, understands the Severe Weather Plan. Each year, review the plan and update it as necessary.

• Take the necessary precautions
• If a storm threatens, secure your building and move equipment/furniture to a secured area.
• Protect data with backup files
• If your business depends on data processing, consider an alternate site. You should also make provisions for alternate communications and power.
• Employee safety comes first. Prepare, distribute and follow your business hurricane plan for recovery.
• Consider providing shelter to employees and their families and helping with supplies after a storm.
• Establish a rendezvous point and time for employees in case communications are disrupted.
• Establish a call-down procedure for warning and post-storm communications.
• Provide photo IDs and a letter of authorization to enter the building.
• Check your hurricane evacuation level and FEMA flood maps to determine if your business location is vulnerable to storm surge or freshwater flooding.
• Have your building(s) inspected by a licensed professional to find out if your workplace is vulnerable to hurricane force winds and what is recommended to retrofit.