Hurricane Season: The Time is Now to Review Your Plan

Have a communication plan to notify your people as a hurricane approaches so you can account for everyone (don’t forget your road warriors and off-site employees). Provide direction on what to do as the threat increases. Have multiple ways to contact people – email, cell phones, public radio, etc. as some methods of communication may be more reliable than others.

Your employees will also have to protect their own homes from the hurricane, so prepare the worksite early to give your employees time to tend to personal needs and practice safety.

• Review your building now and take note of loose roofing or drainpipes, inventory outdoor equipment, and know what kind of utility back up you have (if any).
• Inspect your roof and fix anything that is loose or wearing. If you have outdoor equipment (even an outdoor lunch patio), consider if any of it can be relocated permanently. If not, begin a checklist of actions to implement as a storm approaches. Put as much outdoor equipment and storage indoors as possible. Equipment that can’t be moved should be inspected for loose parts and tied down.
• Determine if you have windows that need to be covered and how that will be done. Move as much stock as possible off the floor. If you have roll up (dock) doors, consider bracing them with plywood held by forklifts. Determine if you have backup power and how it works. If you have a diesel or gasoline generator, know what it can cover and how much fuel you need to have on hand. Test the generator.
• Consider partnering with a disaster recovery firm. These firms will be at capacity once the storm hits and may not take new customers.

Even if your facility is not in the hurricane’s wind path, it could see a lot of rain. Water losses can be as devastating as wind losses. In addition to the precautions above, review low-lying docks, doors or other areas and provide barriers such as sandbags to keep water out of your facility.

If your facility has a basement or subgrade level, relocate electronic and computer equipment and any other valuable materials to a higher level.

Lastly, test sump pumps or rent them ahead of time so water can be quickly removed from the facility.