Hurricanes aren’t the only storms that can damage your building. Poorly maintained infrastructure is subject to damage from water, wind, and debris. If your commercial facility is prepared, you can rest easy when storms head your way. It’s the facility manager’s responsibility to make the structure resilient and avoid costly damages and downtime. Here are some tips to help prepare.
- Identify the most vulnerable parts of the facility, and protect them. Invest in multi-pane windows (their superior insulation saves on energy costs anyway), and make sure seals are tight around doors. Make sure your roof is in good repair and won’t leak. Check that equipment that would be harmed by water and wind can be secured. If your area is vulnerable to hurricanes, have enough plywood to cover your windows and sandbags to protect your doors.
- Take care of your landscaping! Prune large trees, and schedule regular arborist visits to make sure they aren’t rotting and therefore vulnerable to collapse. Avoid having bare dirt on your property as well; it’s not only unattractive, but it also is much more prone to being washed away.
- Plan for the aftermath. Can you count on your facility maintenance team to be there promptly after the storm? In humid climates, HVAC failure can quickly cause mold. If that’s your situation, think about renting or buying backup generators early.
- Make a comprehensive emergency plan. Include emergency resources, ways to communicate with employees, shelter locations, and recovery options. Where will you turn if a piece of infrastructure or equipment needs repair or replacement? By what criteria will you determine if you can resume normal business processes?
Having an experienced facility maintenance team on your side to help prepare and recover from a storm really helps. MaintenX has spent 30 years in Florida, and is ready to support you before, during, and after extreme rain. To learn more about this and our other services, reach out to us at any time.
