15 Preventive Steps To Take Before Hurricane Season

Being prepared in advance of a hurricane will minimize the economic impact as well as the damaging effects of hurricane rains and winds on both your business and home. Take pre-emptive action to prevent property damage and safeguard the health and safety of your family and employees by following the steps outlined below before the start of Hurricane season.

Hurricane Preventive Step 1: Be certain that both your business facility and your home meets current building code standards for withstanding high wind storms. Structures built or reinforced to meet or exceed high wind building codes have a greater chance of emerging from a destructive storm intact.

Hurricane Preventive Step 2: Ensure that you have adequate business and home insurance to cover flooding and wind damage. Today, make the important call to verify all coverage with your insurance agent.

Hurricane Preventive Step 3: Install permanent commercial grade storm shutters on your business and home to provide the best protection for all large windows and glass doors. Optionally, an inexpensive solution is to board up windows with 5/8 inch panels of marine plywood. Store these, pre-cut, ready to install, panels in a convenient location. Building supply stores run out of these materials quickly as a hurricane approaches. Contrary to popular belief, the problem of breaking windows is not prevented by taping them.

Hurricane Preventive Step 4: Consider designating an interior business office or room in your personal residence with no windows or external door on the lowest level as a safe room. Below ground level safe rooms designed to avoid accumulating water provide the greatest protection from the wind. Adequate protection can also be provided by a first floor interior room built to withstand high winds and flying debris.

Hurricane Preventive Step 5: Loading dock doors and home garage doors are particularly vulnerable to damage as winds may force them off the roller track. Doors should be reinforced with bracing on each panel. Heavy hinges and strong vertical supports may be necessary to withstand hurricane force winds.

Hurricane Preventive Step 6: Have your business landscaper check trees and shrubs on your property and be sure all dead wood and overhanging branches are trimmed. If you live in a hurricane prone area consider landscaping materials other than gravel or stone which can become projectiles in high winds. Take the same precautions for your personal residence.

Hurricane Preventive Step 7: Formulate a written emergency and business continuity plan. Share this plan with all employees, suppliers and key customers. Likewise, create a Family Emergency Plan including escape routes from your home and a meeting place. Designate an out-of-state family contact and post emergency phone numbers by your phones. Share your plans with family and close friends.

Hurricane Preventive Step 8: Keep a Disaster Supply Kit stocked with non-perishable emergency supplies, food, water, medication, clothing, flashlights and batteries in both your business office and your home. Check the kit routinely and replenish it as needed.

Hurricane Preventive Step 9: Have a NOAA weather radio and replace the batteries every six months. Make it a habit to change them at the same time you change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Hurricane Preventive Step 10: Be familiar with your local area evacuation plan and the location of the nearest shelter relative to both your business and home. Map out your route in advance. Be certain all employees and family members are informed of the evacuation plan.

Hurricane Preventive Step 11: If you own a boat, have a plan for mooring it, and purchase all supplies needed to secure it. Compile an inventory list of all equipment on board and keep copies on shore and aboard the boat.

Hurricane Preventive Step 12: If you have pets, plan for their care in case of evacuation. Most shelters do not allow pets. Some hotels, motels, or inns are equipped to handle pets and others make exceptions for emergencies. Check ahead and know beforehand where your pet can be accommodated. Keep an emergency supply of non-perishable pet food on hand.

Hurricane Preventive Step 13: Prepare a video tape of your business facility, equipment and inventory. Likewise do the same for the contents of your home as well as your boat and all equipment on board for insurance purposes.

Hurricane Preventive Step 14: Backup all computer and financial data regularly. Secure an off-site storage area for all your important business papers and data. Take similar precautions for all important personal information.

Hurricane Preventive Step 15: Be aware that land lines and cell phones will probably not be operational for many days or weeks after a hurricane. Consider purchasing a satellite phone to ensure communication with loved ones and business associates. Have a spare, fully charged battery. Periodically make a test call to ensure the satellite phone is operational and that you know how to use it.

In summary, be well prepared. Ensure your safety and that of your family as well as your employees. Protect both your personal and business property, and save time and money by thinking ahead and pre-planning for all eventualities.