Even if a hurricane does not put your company out of business, you may not be able to make contact with your customers or obtain important deliveries. To combat these risks, you must take the necessary steps before a disaster strikes to ensure business continuation.

HURRICANE PREPARATION SUGGESTIONS q q q q q q q q q q q q

Check local flood maps by visiting www. esri. com / services / disaster-response / floods / latest-news-map. html Also, have your building inspected by a licensed professional to ensure that the roof and other connections comply with the wind loading requirements for your area.

Consider installing impact-resistant film on your windows.

Gather a list of vendors and telephone numbers of individuals or entities that are critical to your daily operations. If you heavily rely on one or two vendors, consider adding a backup vendor outside of your area.

Prepare a list of companies that can assist you in recovery efforts, such as removing debris, moving and computer services. Provide employees with a chain of command and list of responsibilities in the event that a disaster strikes. Prepare a list of your employees and their contact information. Also find out where they may vacate to, if you are required to evacuate the city. Arrange for communication with your clients and customers, in the event of a disaster, to keep them informed.

Constantly diversify your customer base, products and sales locations. This will prevent a major loss, if a majority of your customer base is also affected by the hurricane.

Designate a remote phone number on your voicemail system for which you can record messages to employees in the event of an emergency.

Arrange for programmable call forwarding of your business lines with the phone company. Then you can call and reprogram your phones from a remote location, if needed.

Install emergency backup lights that turn on when the power goes out. Back up your data on a frequent basis and keep this information off-site.

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES

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Ready-to-eat canned foods, fruits and vegetables. Also energy foods, such as granola bars. Select foods that do not require refrigeration, cooking or preparation. q

Urge employees to keep a three-day supply of their medications on-hand as well as pain relievers and stomach remedies. q

Urge employees to bring in a blanket. Manual can opener

Urge employees to keep an extra pair of reading glasses at work.

First-aid supplies: adhesive bandages, sterile dressing, roller gauze bandages, triangular bandages, gauze pads, germicidal hand wipes and alcoholbased sanitizer, non-latex gloves, adhesive tape, cold packs, scissors, tweezers and CPR face shield.

REDUCING DAMAGE

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Bolt tall bookcases and displays to the wall studs. q

Install latches on drawers to prevent them from flying open. q

Secure breakable items in a stand using hook-and-loop fasteners. q

Secure pictures and mirrors to the wall with closed screw eyes and wire. q

Install flexible connectors to appliances using natural gas and automatic fire sprinklers.

WHEN STORMS ARE IMMINENT

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Back up your files and move this information off-site. Make arrangements to use alternative means of communication, especially if you cannot shut down your systems completely. Check your emergency supplies and stock up on any necessary items.

Place large objects on low shelving.

Secure your water heater to the wall studs with plumber’ s tape or strap iron.

Help your employees get to their families safely. If it is not safe to leave the facility, establish a meeting point outside of the evacuation area for employees once you can leave.

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