Hurricane season can cause devastation for businesses and homeowners each year. Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Florida and Cuba last September, left more than 520,000 businesses and homes without power and caused over $100 billion in total economic damage, according to Forbes.
The beginning of May marks National Hurricane Awareness Week for 2023, and The White House has published a proclamation to recognize this important commitment to help safeguard families, communities, and businesses from natural disasters. While the emphasis is often on homeowners, companies that aren’t prepared for weather events could be at risk of catastrophic loss and damages.
In preparation for hurricane season, business owners in affected areas across industries should review their safety procedures, business continuity plans, and catastrophe resources. If you live or work in a hurricane-prone area, take a moment to familiarize yourself with preparation instructions on ready.gov/hurricanes. This is the place to find a variety of preparation tips if a hurricane is expected to make landfall as well as instructions for surviving during a hurricane and for being safe after a hurricane. Our website offers a library of resources about hurricane preparedness and response. You can also download our Hurricane Preparedness Emergency Kit!
Review your company’s crisis management program, including business continuity, disaster recovery and emergency response. Safety plans for your business during hurricane season should include:
- Designated hurricane operations team and up-to-date emergency contact list
- Offsite data backup for important files and records
- Employee communications plan – automated alert system or phone tree
- Emergency necessities: bottled water and canned goods (three-day supply) paper cups, utensils, garbage bags, soap, disinfectant, detergent, battery-operated radio, batteries, flashlights
- Emergency equipment: heavy plastic sheeting, plywood, masking tape, sandbags, generator, hand tools, wooden boards
- First aid kits available and stored in airtight bags or containers
Businesses also must have the right property insurance in place. In some cases, business owners may not understand the details of their policies and make assumptions before a hurricane strikes. To avoid complications, it is best to review the plan ahead of time each year with your insurance agent.
Learn More: Your Checklist Before, During, and After a Hurricane | Hurricane Season Is Coming
