As you know the 2010 hurricane season started June 1st. Homes should be equipped, food storage containers stocked, and businesses should prepare now for a possible interruption of services. Forecasters already call for an active season with a high likelihood for major hurricanes Category 3 or above. Below are some tips to help you secure your business should a storm threaten.
• Store important business records in a watertight container in a safe place.
• Don’t expect cell phones or telephones to work immediately after a storm and plan accordingly.
• Identify essential staff for post-storm recovery and decide predetermined locations for employees to meet when conditions permit.
• Prepare a photo or video inventory of assets and store it in a safe location.
• Make sure you insurance policy payment is up-to-date.
• Maintain detailed expenses that FEMA could use for possible reimbursement.
• Keep some cash on-hand; banking may be unavailable for several days.
Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR) hosts a website dedicated to helping residents prepare for a possible hurricane strike. Business owners can input information and the DBPR site will customize a business preparation plan to their unique situation. The DBPR website is at: www.FloridaDisaster.org.