Prepare Your Business for Hurricane Season
As rainy days become more frequent, bringing some flooding and hail, many are on edge and preparing for hurricane season. The season officially starts next month, giving those at risk a window to prepare.
Risk Assessment Foundations
Begin hurricane preparation with a comprehensive vulnerability assessment. Identify critical business functions that would cause significant disruption if interrupted, ranging from customer service operations to manufacturing processes. Evaluate facilities for structural vulnerabilities, including roof systems, windows, and exterior components that might fail during high winds or flooding. Assess surrounding property features like drainage systems, nearby water bodies, and elevation relative to flood levels. Document all critical equipment, technology systems, and inventory with photographs and detailed inventories. This foundational assessment should be updated annually before hurricane season begins, with particular attention to changes in operations, facilities, or surrounding development patterns.
Physical Property Protection
Implement specific facility hardening measures based on your vulnerability assessment. Install permanent hurricane shutters or pre-cut marine plywood panels for all windows and glass doors. Reinforce entry doors with additional bracing and waterproofing. Consider installing a generator with sufficient capacity to power critical systems, ensuring it's professionally installed with appropriate transfer switches and fuel storage. Elevate critical equipment, electrical systems, and inventory storage above potential flood levels. For leased facilities where structural modifications aren't feasible, develop detailed protection protocols using temporary measures like water barriers, tarps, and strategic relocation of vulnerable assets.
Data and Technology Safeguards
Establish robust data protection systems against both physical damage and power disruptions. Implement redundant, geographically-dispersed backup systems that automatically archive critical business data. Verify that cloud-based applications and storage solutions remain accessible even if local infrastructure fails. Create technology equipment protection protocols, including covering or relocating vulnerable hardware and implementing waterproof storage for essential devices. Maintain printed copies of critical operational information, customer contacts, and employee data in waterproof containers, recognizing that digital systems may remain unavailable for extended periods following severe hurricanes.
Employee Preparation Protocols
Develop clear communication and safety protocols for your workforce. Create a comprehensive emergency contact system with multiple communication methods, including text messaging, email, and phone chains. Establish specific criteria for business closure decisions and communicate these thresholds to all staff in advance. Define essential personnel responsibilities during the preparation and recovery phases, ensuring these employees have proper training and resources. Consider establishing evacuation expense support or emergency housing arrangements for critical employees whose homes may be damaged while your business requires their services.
Business Continuity Planning
Create a formal business continuity plan addressing extended operational disruptions. Identify alternative operating locations or remote work capabilities that allow critical functions to continue during facility repairs. Establish relationships with key suppliers, customers, and business partners outside your immediate geographic area who can provide support during regional disruptions. Review insurance coverage to ensure appropriate protection for hurricane-specific risks, including flood, business interruption, and contingent business interruption coverage. Conduct annual plan testing through tabletop exercises that simulate hurricane scenarios, allowing your team to practice implementation before actual emergencies occur.