Preparing your Business for Storm Season

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

While we still have the occasional chilly day, it seems that spring has finally arrived in Texas, and with it storm season. The rain and wind have been blowing in, and homeowners prepare for high winds, hail, and possible water damage if either causes damage to their property. But what about your business? Doesn't it need preparation too? Well, SERVPRO of East Ft. Worth is here to help with some tips and tricks to get a storm (and possibly a tornado) ready this spring.

Include shelter-in-place information in your EAP: Knowing when and where to take shelter during a tornado is a crucial part of emergency preparedness. It is something that ALL of your employees should be familiar with. A basement is the best possible place to be during a tornado. However, if your building does not have a basement, you should make sure all employees go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor with no windows.

Implement an emergency notification system: Despite most likely having sirens in your area, tornadoes often occur with little to no warning; because of this, many people find themselves ill-prepared for a tornado with little time to take shelter. Using an emergency notification system like Disaster Alert (iPhone) or Natural Disaster Monitor (Android), employees can be made more aware of severe weather in their area. The app can alert them of the tornado so they can seek shelter immediately.

Have a work from the home policy: Within minutes, a tornado can destroy everything in its path. This includes property, homes, and businesses, but it can also disrupt business operations for extended periods. To ensure not all operations come to a stand-still, it is in good practice to implement a work from the home policy if it makes sense for your business. This allows employees to continue working, even if they are unable to make it to the office.

Include training in your plans: If employees are not familiar with using emergency plans, they become essentially useless. Ensure that all employees have been adequately trained on how to respond to a tornado to avoid confusion and future injury while looking for shelter.