Is Your Business Ready for Hurricane Season?

6/20/2022 (Permalink)

Hurricane season is approaching, and you may be wondering “What can my business do to prepare in order to protect our staff and property?” Well, fortunately here in the Upstate we do not experience the high winds the same way our friends on the coast do. But we still get the rain!

Last February you saw us mobilize to help Spartanburg residents affected by tornadoes. We will mobilize just the same to help Upstate businesses. We want to help you keep running! So, to help you before you may need us, here is a list of tips for preparation and reaction to hurricane storms.

1. "Do we have an emergency plan outlined?" This is something every business should have, regardless of what it is you do. You need to have a plan mapped out for who to call, where emergency exits are located, and how to properly evacuate the building of any persons inside, if applicable. Know the best places to shelter from any possible flying debris, too, in case an evacuation is not possible.
2. Back up your data. Make sure all your inventory, personnel, financial, and any other pertinent business information is backed up in case your business loses power. Use external hard drives or a recovery services vendor to ensure you have your data ready when you return to business.
3. Protect your property. Trim trees around your building, clear the surrounding drainage facilities, clean the gutters attached to the building, too. Boarding up windows is effective, but not always a necessity in the Upstate.
4. Operate remotely. If you know the storm is coming, and that it may be a bad one, have your staff work from home (if possible). If your business cannot operate remotely, declare early, do not put the safety of your customers or staff at risk. If you want, have a volunteer or two on-site during the storm to monitor how the structure is affected, make sure they are supplied with the necessary provisions.
5. Expect the unexpected. You cannot be overprepared in a hurricane or tornado. Stock up on water, have an external battery on hand to charge your cell phone, and follow the above tips.

No one wants to lose their home or business, especially to a natural disaster, so we at SERVPRO Spartanburg County hope these tips help you plan for the worst.

If the worst does occur SERVPRO Spartanburg County is available 24/7. Call us at 864-576-2430!