Hurricane Season – 11 Questions to Ask Yourself

Hurricane season for 2023 is upon us. And it’s never too late to be properly prepared. It’s always better to be over-prepared and then nothing happens than to be under-prepared and a major storm comes your way. Every business owner, regardless of the type of work they do, should address the following 11 questions in their effort to come out of hurricane season with the least possible impact.

Q1 –

Do you have a hurricane preparedness plan?

That sounds like a basic question, but you’d be surprised how many companies (and individuals) don’t have one or they have one that is woefully out-of-date.  Start with the big picture and work your way down into the details. You’ll be glad you did.

Q2 –

Are you prepared for the wind or water that hurricanes bring?

Most hurricane-related damage is due to one or the other or both, which can result in flooding. Check to see if you’re in a flood zone, although non-zone areas have been known to flood. 

Q3 –

Speaking of flooding, what’s the status of stormwater management on your property?

Is there a retention pond within the general proximity of your operations? Get an assessment or evaluation of best-case and worst-case scenarios and adjust your hurricane plan accordingly.

Q4 –

What’s the status of your insurance? And does it include flood insurance?

If your policy is several years old, the limits of the policy may not reflect the cost of replacing items damaged during a storm. Recent inflation has made everything more expensive and increasing your coverage may be advised.

Q5 –

Are your emergency sources of power up to snuff given changes in roadways and the surrounding landscape, including HVAC systems?

Depending on where you’re located, a construction boom may be underway, which affects the infrastructure all around you.

Q6 –

Is the property where your operations are located have a resiliency response checklist?

This will be important when addressing things that need attention – and in what order – after a hurricane passes. And who is responsible for any claims that result from the storm?

Q7 –

Have you considered the ramifications on any structures you may have that are below ground?

For example, does your office (and home, for that matter) have underground parking? Be sure that proper signage and warnings are in place to prevent damage from underground water breaches.

Q8 –

Assuming your building (s) is damaged, closed, or flooded, do you have a temporary or remote location identified to set up emergency operations?

This falls in line with business continuance so that the hurricane doesn’t put you out of business temporarily or even permanently.

Q9 –

Are you prepared to assist your employees (and even neighbors) to find temporary shelter or other resources needed before, during, and after a hurricane?

Your business can’t continue if your employees are busy dealing with personal issues or losses as a result of a storm.

Q10 –

And finally, what and who do you contract with for post-event remediation and cleanup activities?

These will differ by location, but companies like ServPro and Paul Davis Restorations can be hired to help businesses and individuals recover from weather-related events, fires, and more.

Q11 –

All this being said, how do you avoid supply chain disruptions?

A company’s supply chain should be under continuous scrutiny. You should always have a Plan B or even Plan C that you can turn to quickly before or after a weather event occurs. Warehouse locations and delivery options must be flexible, and you must have an ideal quantity of products to access. Instead of “just-in-time” sometimes “just in case” is the way to go. 

About Tierra Group

Tierra Group is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) with global and domestic experience delivering critical services on time and within budget. The company deploys multi-disciplinary teams to provide customers with critical support services for the commercial, communities/residential, healthcare, industrial, government, and power/water utilities infrastructure sectors. www.tierrasolutions.com