Hurricane season is an especially stressful time for business owners. It can be challenging to strike that balance between maintaining productivity and taking all of the right precautions in order to keep your team and workspace safe. As a rule of thumb, we recommend closing up shop the day (or night) a hurricane is supposed to hit, but we understand first-hand that this isn’t possible for everyone. If your doors are staying open during or after a hurricane, take a look at this hurricane prep kit for businesses to make sure everything runs as safely and smoothly as possible.
Small Team, Clear Roles
The most important first step is in making sure that you have the smallest possible team physically present during the actual storm. All essential members of your team who can work remotely should be asked to do so. Make sure everyone who must be physically present is aware at least one week ahead of time. Everyone who will report to work during the storm must have clear tasks and duties to perform in the event of a blackout, injury, or another emergency. Hold a team meeting to go over these roles and make sure that you print out these roles and related instructions to have on display during the hurricane shift. Roles can include:
✔ Who is responsible for getting flashlights in the event of a blackout
✔ Who is responsible for contacting emergency services and/or contacts if necessary
✔ Who is in charge of snacks and water for team members
✔ If you run a hotel or other hospitality business, who is in charge of communicating with customers in the face of a blackout
✔ Who will assign new responsibilities on the spot as the need for them arises
Updated Emergency Contacts
Make sure that you have up-to-date emergency contact information for every member of your team who will be on-shift during or immediately after the storm. Place this emergency contact list in an accessible binder, and task one or two members of your team with the responsibility of accessing it if necessary. Also make sure that you post a laminated contact list of company-wide emergency contacts (power company, gas company, your phone number, etc.) in a place where all members of your team can see it.
Send Out Safety Memos
Hold a safety training and send out memos detailing exactly which member of your team is in charge of what in case of a blackout. If you won’t be present during the storm shift(s), make sure your contact information is given out and that you are accessible by phone at all times throughout the storm. If your team members feel prepared with specific roles and responsibilities, they are much more likely to stay safe and productive in the face of an emergency.
Stock Up on Supplies
Make sure your business is stocked with at least three days’ worth of water and snacks for everyone on-shift. It’s likely that these won’t be needed, but it’s critical to be prepared for anything – and to make sure that your team members feel taken care of during a high-stress time. Making supplies available to your team is a non-negotiable part of preparing your business for a hurricane.
Prevent an Outage
Of course, the most important precaution you can take against a hurricane is to prevent a power outage from happening in the first place. Investing in a commercial generator means the difference between putting your team at risk and allowing your business to continue as usual. If your commercial generator is in need of maintenance, or if you don’t have a generator for your business, we cannot recommend enough that you get this taken care of now, before hurricane season hits. Be proactive about getting a great commercial generator: your productivity and team morale will thank you for it soon enough.
We hope this hurricane prep kit for businesses was helpful to you as you gear up for hurricane season. Remember: clearly defined roles, open communication, and a powerful commercial generator are critical to making sure your businesses weathers the storm smoothly. If you’d like to get a free quote on your commercial generator maintenance or installation, contact us.