Your facility doesn’t have to be located along the Gulf Coast to need a contingency plan in the event a major storm strikes.
And it doesn’t take a Category 3 hurricane to wreak havoc on businesses.
For example: In 2008, Hurricane Ike hit the Houston area as only a Category 1 storm.
That “small” hurricane did plenty of damage though. Power was knocked out in 99% of the city.
Nearly a month later some parts of the city and surrounding towns were still without power.
And businesses far from the Lone Star State – branch facilities, suppliers, customers, vendors, etc. – also felt Ike’s destructive punch.
2015 could be another rough one for many businesses
Meteorologists are by and large predicting a milder storm season than we’ve seen in recent summers.
But keep in mind that businesses (and homeowners) have been bombarded with billions of dollars worth of damage from violent storms most years over the past 10 years. Not to mention, meteorologists have a tendency to miss on some predictions, so take those “milder” forecasts from the experts with a grain of salt!
Here are two ways businesses like yours can prepare for a hurricane:
1. Look to backup vendors
Take stock of where your key suppliers and vendors are located (Louisiana, Florida, etc.).
A break in the supply chain could end up hurting your business.
Now’s the time to check if other vendors, even secondary ones, can meet your needs if a major vendor is affected by a hurricane.
2. Plan for the worst now
If your facility or facilities are located in a hurricane region, make sure your emergency plan includes taking these steps:
• Cover or move critical equipment near windows and doors to a secure area or higher floor in case of flooding.
• Keep boards on site for covering any non-impact-resistant windows.
• Stock up on bottled water for occupants who must remain on site.