It is no secret that in Florida the weather can change at a moment’s notice. One minute it is 90 degrees and sunny, then the next minute the clouds and thunder roll in. Sometimes these storms are over in 20 minutes, but other times they turn into much more.
Hurricane season began June 1 and ends the 30th of November. Businesses must plan for inclement weather; how will you keep in touch with your employees should business need to close for a few days? What happens if there is damage to equipment? Can you operate or will you need to shut down for repairs? Recovery after a devastating storm is just as important to plan for as the days leading up to the storm. All employees should be clear on what is expected of them prior to, during, and after a storm. Having a way to communicate with employees is important. Do you have a call list, an email list or an app that can keep lines of communication open? Is there anything at the office that must be removed prior to closure? Do you have a backup system for all sensitive information in case of severe damage to your office?
In the event that business cannot operate, you will need a plan of action. Look into if employees can work from home or if there is a space you can occupy while your office gets back on track. It is also a good idea to take a look at your insurance policies and find out what is covered should you have water damage. What will be replaced by insurance and what will you need to pay out of pocket to replace?
There are a lot of variables when it comes to severe weather. The best course of action is to plan well before hurricane season to keep recovery times at minimum.
