Is Your Business Prepared for Storm Season? What to Do Now

May 21, 2022

When a storm warning sweeps through the area, it can be tempting to hunker down at home. However, some business owners don’t have that luxury. Even during intense storms, businesses may stay open to provide a critical service to the surrounding community.

This is why now is the time to try to prepare so that you’re not caught off guard when the storm season arrives. Here are six steps that can help you approach the upcoming storm season with confidence.

1. Create a Storm Preparedness Plan

Although most weather events are unexpected, it’s wise to create a plan that you can refer to if a storm becomes imminent. Having a plan that you can access electronically and in hard copy can help ensure that you don’t miss any steps to prepare for an emergency.

Don’t forget to include a contact list so that you can be in rapid touch with your insurance agent and other important contacts, like clients and suppliers. This allows you to carry on with business even if your computer files are inaccessible.

If you have employees who come into work, your plan can include their emergency contact information and protocols for deciding when they should come to work in inclement weather and who should inform them.

Additionally, you should check to make sure you have adequate insurance. You may also want to sign up for weather-related text alerts now so that you’ll be in the know.

2. Protect Your Physical Premises

Mild weather is a good time to conduct an audit to see where you need to complete maintenance on your location (or ask your landlord to). For example, you can check that trees aren’t leaning dangerously close to your property if they blow down in a storm and look for loose or missing roof shingles or gutters.

You can also find out from your local municipality what they suggest you keep on hand for storm safety, whether plywood to cover your windows in case of a hurricane, sandbags to prevent flooding, or rock salt to keep your sidewalks smooth. If you live in an area experiencing winter storms, try to make sure you have the tools you need to remove snow safely.


3. Safeguard Your Technology

If a storm is approaching, try to keep your devices charged; if the power goes out, they might be the only communication you have.

Then, try to make sure your data is backed up. Many services rely on the internet to sync, so it’s good to do a recent sync before the internet or power goes out.

Many companies also have a cloud-based backup system if their computers are destroyed, so consider double-checking that you have adequate protection there.

4. Stockpile Emergency Supplies

Most people have emergency kits in their homes but neglect to have sufficient supplies at work. Not only is it good to have supplies to keep yourself safe at work, but you’ll likely also need to have sufficient supplies for your employees to use.

Your emergency kit should include:

For more suggestions, visit the American Red Cross website.

5. Have a Post-Storm Plan

If your business has been offline for several days, consider making plans to get in touch with key customers and check that you haven’t missed any important messages or deadlines to minimize the impact on your business.

If your property is damaged, you can snap photos and take detailed notes to chronicle the problem, and then you can get in touch with your insurance company to see what information they need.

6. Remember to Always Act With Caution

Above all, never put yourself, your employees, or your customers in danger. If that means closing until the brunt of the storm passes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Want more information? To access a variety of resources on preparing your small business for the storm season, visit the American Red Cross’s “Ready Rating” site.


About the Author 

Cathie Ericson is a freelance writer who specializes in small business, finance, and real estate.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is,” and neither the author nor Office Depot warrants the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.