If you own a business in an area with regular storms -- whether they are hurricanes, winter blizzards, tornados, or just old-fashioned "big blows" -- you know that protecting your business means being prepared. To help ensure you and your company are as ready as you can be, here's a quick guide to the three key areas in which to prepare.
The Building. Weather events often happen when no one is at your business property, so it's vital to prepare the site physically. Windows and doors are often the weakest parts of a building's façade, so be sure you upgrade all exterior windows -- in all buildings, offices, and outbuildings -- to impact-resistant windows to prevent interior damage. Look for impact windows and doors that have been tested for criteria like flying debris, pressure cycles, and water resistance. Make sure the roof is free of damage and replace aged sections. Keep drains and catch basins free of debris. Finally, train more than one person in each building on how to turn off the utilities or pipes that carry any flammable materials.
The Employees. If a storm begins while your buildings are occupied, you will need a plan to ensure employees' safety. Work with managers and workers to create an evacuation plan for all offices and work areas. Have all employees complete and file emergency contact information... and keep it updated at least once per year. You may want to purchase and have on-site a backup generator to keep the lights on in the office -- and some emergency food and water -- until production has been shut down. Keep electronics functioning by buying backup battery packs so managers can coordinate your efforts.
The Business. Finally, you will need to protect the physical and intangible assets of your business in order to recover as quickly as possible. Backing up all your data regularly to an offsite location or service is the most important thing you can do to preserve regular function. Assess your business and property insurance once per year to ensure that changes to your assets or income have been adjusted for and that upgrades like impact windows have been priced into your rates. Take photos and keep records of large assets in a separate location for claims purposes.
Whether your business is large or small, being prepared for an emergency will help you move forward with confidence that you won't lose everything if the weather gets the better of your area.
Share3 March 2017
Every year, I make a list of spring cleaning tasks. Unfortunately, I’m a procrastinator. Therefore, I rarely complete every item on my extensive list. This year, I plan to start my spring cleaning early. One of the tasks I’m passionate about is cleaning windows. When I get finished with my windows, I want them to appear invisible due to their level of cleanness. To accomplish this task, I use both over-the-counter window cleaners and natural cleaning agents. To reduce the incidence of smudges, you can wipe your windows down with a newspaper. On this blog, you will learn how to clean your windows before spring arrives.