24/7 Emergency ServiceSERVPRO is There for You & Your Business | Disaster Plan
3/14/2019 (Permalink)
Have you ever stopped to think about how Mother Nature can prove to be quite a formidable foe, throwing everything from floods, hurricanes and tornadoes to wildfires and earthquakes at us? The key to being able to roll with the punches as a business, so to speak, is to be prepared for a multitude of worst-case scenarios.
Being prepared for those scenarios involves creating a natural disaster plan for your business. Some aspects to consider when designing that plan are laid out in this blog.
There are many things you will need to consider when creating a disaster plan for your business. Included in those considerations should be:
- Protecting your employees
- Securing your assets
- Getting your business up and running again
Many checklists are available from different agencies like the Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov that will assist in identifying areas that need to be included in your natural disaster preparedness plan. These sources can also help let you know how prepared you truly are.
Because disasters strike without warning, your primary concern must be having a plan in place that lays out procedures and safety measures for the protection of employees and visitors.
Evacuation routes and all exits from your facility need to be clearly marked. You need to provide a place where people can take shelter, look into installing emergency lights, and have a designated staff of “safety wardens” properly trained and ready to help with all emergency efforts.
A basement is the ideal location when looking for a space to provide shelter in tornadoes or high-wind situations. However, if this is not possible, find a small interior room, closet or interior hallway on the lowest level of the building.
Brick and mortar locations don’t always mean your business is not at risk. You’ll need to make careful choices about protecting your assets on the inside. Thousands of dollars in equipment and/or merchandise are at risk when a natural disaster strikes.
Be sure to have a comprehensive and up-to-date inventory of these items, and yes, having photographs prior to a disaster whenever possible is always helpful if insurance claims will have to be made. If your assets are based on a computer server, take the steps necessary to ensure that the backup system is working and the storage system cannot be damaged.
As a building owner, take the time to work with a contractor and uncover any areas that could need structural integrity improvement. The contractor can also show you possible safety upgrades and advise on any areas that are not up to code for certain weather situations.
When a natural disaster does occur, it is possible that your business will have to be closed due to damage, and every day you remain closed is another day of lost profits. It is a good idea to set aside an “emergency” fund to cover any additional costs incurred that are not covered by your insurance.
Have a list of contractors who would be available for construction concerns, and know which cleanup and restoration service will be available to quickly respond to your emergency situation.
With SERVPRO® of Western Essex County, you can count on us to get to the disaster faster and make it "Like it never even happened." Our training and expertise have prepared us to help with water damage, storm damage, fire damage and mold remediation quickly and effectively.
Knowing what to do when disaster strikes your business is of the utmost importance. When it comes to the cleanup and restoration aspects, depend on SERVPRO® of Western Essex County to be there for you.