Expert Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Your Business

Before Hurricane Florence makes landfall, there are a few things you can do to ensure safety in the midst of the storm. Here are hurricane preparedness tips for your business:

• Review your hazard and flood coverage NOW. If you don’t have flood coverage, which is NOT covered by hazard insurance, contact the National Flood Insurance Program to purchase flood insurance.  There is a 30-day waiting period after you make the first premium payment.
• Make sure you have access to your insurance policy information, especially policy numbers. Keep handy phone numbers for your insurance agent and the claims department.
• Find a good restoration company—the team who’ll help you clean up the mess so you can focus on the task of reopening your business—and save their number in your cell phone.
• Obtain a line of credit or have enough cash to run your business for at least three months.
• Put together a disaster supply kit including a flashlight with extra batteries, non-perishable foods, one gallon of water per person, per day, a first-aid kit, medications, and extra cash. A complete list is available www.ready.gov. Consider the needs of your family, and those you are evacuating or sheltering with when determining what else to include.
• Gather all important paper—deeds/leases, title documents, insurance policies, financial records, inventory documents, personal documentation such as birth certificates and passports —and put them in a three-ring binder with pockets.  Put that in a waterproof bag, and take it with you if you evacuate.
• Backup your computer data in the cloud or on a flash drive.
• Make sure you have a plan in place to communicate with your employees and clients, to make sure that everyone is safe, and to let everyone know when you’ll be open again for business.
• Follow the guidance on evacuation. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the routes to take, and have a plan on where to stay. Be safe. Download the FEMA mobile app to set up alerts for the latest weather updates, shelter information, disaster resources and preparedness tips in English and Spanish.