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| FEMA Photo library-Liz Roll |
Note: This post was originally published in 2012
and has been updated with current information.
The last two weeks Mother Nature has unleashed her
fury on the southern U.S. and eastern Mexico with three hurricanes and a major
earthquake. As of this posting, two more hurricanes have the potential to strike
the Eastern seaboard. Millions have lost homes and businesses. Between
hurricanes Harvey and Irma everyone seemed to know at least one person, if not
more, directly affected by the storms. Our prayers continue to be uplifted.
When this particular post was written in 2012 the
Mid Atlantic was preparing for another storm as we patiently watched the track
of hurricane Sandy. While Sandy made more of an impact farther north, the
Mid-Atlantic region had experienced some past wild weather. There
were three blizzards in one winter, two back to back. In 2011, there were
back to back tropical storms. In 2012, we experienced a derecho storm. A
derecho type of storm and the name itself being new to the area. Going back to
2003 we all remember the massive flooding associated with Isabel. All of these
weather events caused power outages, some for several days or a week plus.
Getting back to business
In 2012, as now, you see businesses staying open as
long as possible to service their communities. After the storm they open as
quickly as possible to resume operations. Sometimes a business is lost. In
addition to ensuring that their family and homes are safe, small business
owners must also protect their businesses, which in many cases are their
livelihoods.
We become so accustomed to having electricity we
forget all that is electric dependent, e.g.-gas pumps, ATMs, cash registers and
credit card machines to list a few. We also become complacent as to how
dependent our businesses are to electricity.
Power outages are reported in number of customers
without power, not business loss. So there is not one source to determine how
small businesses suffer. There are few businesses that can operate without
power. Depending on your product you may be able to conduct some business with
cash transactions. In the current economic climate any business loss is
crucial. Add to that the possibility of losing inventory due to damage or loss
of refrigeration and small businesses can really be hurt.
Preparation for business restoration
No different than a home, business owners should
prepare for storms and power outages. The logistics of preparing your business
for a storm and the loss of power after the storm can be complicated. Having
a written plan of action can make the task easier. Take the lessons learned
from past outages and make a simple outline. The adage of “being prepared” is
true and can significantly reduce either your loss or time your business is
down.
Depending on your location and the type of storm
you may need to prepare your facility for flooding. This may include boarding
windows, sandbagging, moving inventory and equipment. Your business has
many unique facets that have to be examined when developing your plan. Here are
a few operational items that should be considered.
- Purchase generators or ensure generators are in place and operational.
- Be prepared for cash transactions.
- What type of telephone system do you use? Newer systems do not work without power or have limited hours battery backup.
- What type of security do you have? As with the telephone system, security systems often have only limited hours backup.
- Backup computer business files. Sudden and/or prolonged power outages can result in data loss. When complete, store the files offsite.
- Review insurance policies and coverage’s annually with your provider. Update as necessary.
- Make sure insurance and business documents are easy to locate and safe from harm.
- In the winter, prepare for safe ways to provide heat to your business.
The biggest mistake business owners can make is not heeding warnings and
being caught off guard. We can all learn from the recent storms and past winters
heavy snows. Having a recovery plan of action to protect your business assets
may be the some of the cheapest insurance available.
