Protecting your commercial property from severe weather is essential when storm season is in full swing. After all, hurricanes are powerful storms that pose a serious risk to any infrastructure in their path. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to plan and protect your property in the event of one of these weather systems. Explore this brief guide to learn more.
Before the Storm
Hurricanes are unsettling events that people would rather not have to deal with. However, the good thing about them is that we can track them, which means we can predict when they’re more likely to happen and even when they will make landfall.
This also means we can prep for one long before it starts forming. In other words, if you own a commercial property, it’s wise to have a hurricane preparedness plan.
Your plan should include the following considerations.
- Potential risks (Are parts of your building more susceptible to damage?)
- Disaster response plans (How will you deal with damages, hazards, inclement weather, or PTO?)
- Property insurance plans and coverage information
- Hurricane-related policies and procedures for your staff and your building
You might also include procedures to prepare your business for power outages. Insuring, protecting, and preparing your property for all consequences of inclement weather is essential.
Plus, a comprehensive plan like this will help you make decisions about your operations after a hurricane when the situation is more chaotic than before.
During the Storm
There’s only so much you can do to prepare your commercial property before a hurricane. For this reason, it’s also essential to prepare the property itself to endure the high-speed winds, torrential rain, and flying debris once the storm lands.
Protecting your property from what will happen during a hurricane may look like the following.
- Boarding up your windows and doors
- Decluttering office spaces and removing personal items
- Moving furniture and valuable equipment up off the ground
- Taking pictures of your structure and everything in it for insurance purposes
The Aftermath
You could have the best preparedness plan in the world. Still, hurricanes have a way of ripping through even the most well-protected infrastructure.
You may return to your property and find that all your planning worked and there are minimal damages. On the other hand, you might discover that half your building is irreparably water-logged and ripped to pieces. Either way, you will need a plan of action to help your property and your staff recover.
If your property experienced serious damages, list the people and insurance companies that you need to call. Gather all the proper paperwork, documentation, and pictures to start the process of reimbursement and repairs. Make sure your staff understands what their next steps are as well.
In short, after the storm passes, it’ll be time to start addressing any issues it caused for your property. It’ll be easier to recover with a pre-prepared plan.
