Hurricane season can be devastating on every level. From destroyed homes to upturned livelihoods, hurricane damage can last for years and take many forms—from flooding to complete structural decimation. For businesses, the fallout may last for two to three years following the storm, as certain industries have a hard time recovering from severe damage.
Whatever your business, you can’t afford to spend days getting things back up and running after a natural disaster, so here are our top tips for mitigating damages as you endure a major storm:
Plan Ahead
If you think you might find yourself in the path of a hurricane anytime soon, know what roofing contractor or restoration company you’re going to call when it’s over. Set these relationships up before the storm, so that you don’t end up on a waitlist or forced to settle for sub-par service. Set up an agreement with an experienced contractor that you trust if you’re worried about any possible storm damage in the near future. This is especially true when it comes to critical parts of your business operations, like being able to access files, contact information and reach out to clients even when your physical location is out of commission. Rest assured in these instances, Layer One can be there for you.
Stay in Contact
If you anticipate business closure, even a little bit, make sure all your information online is updated and accurate. This can be critical to the recovery of your business afterward, as people will want to call and check if you are still standing and if you will be open soon. For your most important clients, it may be worth reaching out personally to provide an update about how you’re doing. By being proactive, you increase your chances of not losing too much business to the storm’s interruption. Having all of this information accessible remotely is imperative to keeping your business up and running through a natural disaster.
Emergency Response Plan
Prepare a plan ahead of time, so that if the worst happens, you know what to do. From evacuation procedures to having the phone numbers for your electric and other utility companies at-hand, make sure you’re ready to act as soon as the situation gets serious. In addition, for some businesses, especially those farther away from the storm, a backup generator may be a good investment. A little extra power can help you stay open whenever others may not be able to keep the lights on. Make sure you have access to your IT provider to help with any lost connection or email issues as email will serve as a lifeline during times of crisis for your business.
Organize Everything
From employee contact lists to important business records to your insurance policy, before the storm, make sure that you have all the documents you need in a safe place. Ideally, this would be in a Cloud server, so that you can access them anywhere and they won’t be in any danger of storm damage. After the storm, keep all receipts and invoices for every expense you incur related to the storm, even for items like tarps and clean-up supplies. These costs will add up and can be applied to your deductible. Good organization can save you a headache when the worst happens and make a stressful time just a little less stressful.
When the worst happens, you should be prepared as a business owner. Layer One has been in Corpus Christi for over two decades and we know what it means to have a business on the coast. Our team is exactly who you want to rely on when bad weather and flooding are affecting your business. If you’re experiencing frustration with your current IT provider, or need a little backup for your current team, we can help. Contact Layer One Networks today for the best support on the Gulf coast and to get started on a crisis plan for your business!
Click here to download our eBook on extreme weather to learn how to prepare!