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Summer Emergency
Preparedness for Your Small
Business Location
Mother Nature can wreak havoc on your commercial property. Heavy rain and
high winds can severely damage or destroy your roof, gutters, roof-mounted
equipment, exterior signage and other objects kept outside like display racks or
trash cans. Being proactive with your summer emergency preparedness is a
key to helping to avoid, or at the very least, reduce the amount of loss suffered
to your commercial property during severe weather.
Stay Informed
The severe weather season typically begins June 1 and ends in late November,
depending upon your location. When this season comes around, make sure to
keep a watchful eye on the upcoming weather forecast on a regular basis. If a
severe storm is approaching, stay informed with the updates provided by local
media and your area’s public officials on the progress and the potential severity
of any storms. Other resources to consider are several reputable smartphone
applications that can come in handy to alert you of thunderstorm cell activity
and lightning strikes in your area.
Begin Preparing Your Small Business Property
If a severe storm is inevitably going to hit your area, then it’s time to get
started on securing your small business property.
Begin with the outside by relocating any materials or equipment that could
move during the storm, such as signs or displays, to a secure area. Move any
vehicles your business may have to a safe location, such as a covered
garage.
Check for any loose or missing roofing materials – these areas are vulnerable
to high winds and allow for water penetration. Make sure to have these fixed
by a professional as soon as possible. Also, check for any gaps around
flashing or locations where objects are secured to the roof, such as antennas.
These issues should be addressed immediately.
Remember to check your drainage system, such as your gutters. Clear them
of any dirt, debris or leaves that could cause them to clog up, leading to
excess pooling of water and potential roof failure and water damage. Also,
check the gutters themselves by making sure they are anchored tightly so
they can resist the effects of high winds.
If your small business property has exterior glass frontage, be sure to move
items away from the windows and clear out that section as much as possible.
Unplug equipment, lamps, appliances, and other electrical devices, and
cover up important equipment with plastic bags. Move any boxes,
equipment, file cabinets, etc. that are normally kept on the floor to an
elevated area. In the event there is any flooding, items left on the floor
could be damaged.
Make sure all communication devices as well as laptops and other essential
electronics are fully charged before taking them with you. Create multiple
back-ups or copies of electronic files, and store records off premises as
much as possible.
Installing a generator is a great way to prepare for the possibility of power
loss and to help reduce business disruption. It enables your small business
to continue operating some or all of your electronic equipment and lights. It
can help avoid or reduce commercial property damage from high heat and
humidity, as well as freezing temperatures. Additionally, it can help minimize
or eliminate the threat of food spoilage.
Remember to regularly check and service your generator so it will be ready
at a moment’s notice. As part of storm preparation, it is recommended that
you ensure immediate access to fuel for powering generator. Click here for
more information about generators and their safe use.
Lastly, but most notably – take measures to protect your most important
asset: your workforce. Close your office at a time that allows your
employees ample opportunity to safely travel home, so that they can
secure their home and prepare for the storm.
AmTrust Offers Commercial Property Protection
Commercial package loss control is a multi-faceted process that varies by
the type of business, region of the country, the season and other factors.
AmTrust is here to help. Check out our commercial property
protectionsection of our website, as well as our other loss control
resources. Also, check out our blog post “Create Your Own Hurricane
Management Plan” for additional information and tips on preparing your
small business for severe weather.
For more details about AMT Warranty Corp feel free to
visit: http://blog.amtrustgroup.com/policywire/summeremergency-preparedness-for-small-businesses