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Weather Emergencies at Work | SERVPRO of Harlingen/San Benito
9/19/2023 (Permalink)
If you were to ask someone what the most important part of running a business is, there is a good chance the answer will be staying prepared. Keeping a company going means you need to be able to weather any storm—and sometimes that can be literal storms.
Preparing your business and your employees to handle weather emergencies is crucial in keeping everyone safe and avoiding as much loss as possible. Create a plan to add one more layer of preparation to your team.
In order to create a plan that covers all of the risks your business might face, you need to first assess what those risks might be. Get to know the weather you see each season, and investigate previous disasters that have left your building or those near you damaged.
We enjoy pretty warm and mild weather in this part of Texas, but living so near water and in a tropical climate also means we have to contend with heavy rains, storms and occasional hurricanes. Spring and summer are the most weather heavy months, but flooding, wind damage and other storm-related damage is possible year-round.
Always check your business’ location on flood maps so that you can consider every possible situation as you create your emergency plans. Check local weather every day, and keep up with long-term forecasts in order to prepare as early as possible.
Once you better understand the risk you may face while at work, create a communication plan that can keep everyone on the same page as you put emergency protocols in place. Create multiple avenues to keep your team connected at all times.
Your team should have two ways to receive weather alerts, including one that does not involve electricity in the event the power goes out. Messages should be sent more that one way as well so that everyone knows when it is time to gather supplies and when it is time to evacuate.
During some emergency events, evacuating your building will be the best way to keep your team safe. Map out safe routes to exit from throughout your building, and ensure doors are clearly labeled. Practice your evacuation plan with your crew regularly.
When an evacuation isn’t the safest way to weather a storm, your employees need a safe space to shelter in. Choose a location on the lowest level of your building with no windows, and keep a store of supplies nearby. Visit this location when you practice your emergency plan, and ensure it is also clearly labeled.
As you enact your emergency plan, it is crucial to keep your team calm. Panic can make disasters worse, and whether you are staying or going, your response needs to be handled quickly and safely. Practice often and clearly communicate in order to keep anxiety levels as low as possible. Preparation is key for a successful business, so prepare now for storms and avoid disaster later!
Don’t let extreme weather take control! If storms strike your business, SERVPRO® can help you restore your losses.