Storm preparedness tips for your small business.
As Game of Thrones always reminds us, ‘winter is coming.’ Thursday, December 21st will mark the start of winter, and now is the time to ensure that your business is ready for what is to come. Winter storms can impact any business, large and small, but there are certain ways to can prevent extensive damage.
Preparing for a storm can save your business money by helping prevent structural damage, loss of revenue from unnecessary closures during repairs, and costly liability suits from preventable accidents. To make sure your small business is ready to take on the worst winter storms, read on.
Check the exterior. Repair any damage to downspouts and drains, clean out gutters, and hire a professional to check the roof. Make sure that your business can quickly and effectively direct rainwater away from the building and foundation.
Maintain the temperature. Even in unoccupied spaces, keep the temperature above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. You may also want to wrap exterior pipes with insulation to prevent them from freezing. Frozen water in pipes will expand, bursting the pipe and causing a great deal of damage.
Protect data. Ensure that all of your business’s important documents are backed up and are secure. Store sensitive paper documents in a safety box and consider scanning them in and storing them digitally. Remind employees that any data stored on a computer hard drive, rather than a company server, can be lost.
Create an emergency response plan. If a storm does hit your business, what will you do? Before a disaster happens, construct a plan of how you will protect employees and customers, manage business operations, and communicate with clients, vendors, and staff during and after the disaster. Go over this plan with your employees so that they know what to do.
Craft a business continuity plan. How will your business operate in the event of a natural disaster? For example, if your business sells goods or services online, you may still receive online orders that you need to fulfill – even if your actual storefront is closed.
A small investment in winter storm preparation for your small business can pay huge dividends when a blizzard hits. For the protection your business needs, contact Perry & Carroll, serving Elmira and neighboring cities in New York.