Protect your business during hurricane season

Studies show that 40% of businesses do not open immediately after a disaster, and another 25% fail within one year.¹ In hurricane-risk states (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TX), 59% of property owners reported suffering damages to their structures from a natural disaster in the last five years, according to a recent Nationwide survey. Half of those who sustained damage experienced interruption to their business, underscoring the need to plan for extreme weather events. The development and implementation of a proactive natural disaster preparedness program can help business owners minimize the devastating effects caused by disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods.

A fast-moving hurricane can cause wind damage up to 150-miles inland, while tornados imbedded in these storms add to the degree of damage. Slow moving storms have a tendency towards flash-flooding and long-term flooding. Before disaster strikes, a plan to ensure business continuation should be developed to minimize negative impact in the face of a natural disaster. As the Atlantic Tropical Storm and Hurricane Season is intensifying, consider incorporating these key preparation suggestions: 

• Prepare a Plan. Set up an emergency response plan and train employees how to carry it out. Compile a list of contacts to include local and state emergency management agencies, major customers, contractors, suppliers, financial institutions, and insurance agency partners.
• Build a severe weather emergency plan tailored to your business. Develop and implement a plan that outlines items you need during the emergency. Identify critical business activities and the resources needed to support them. Mitigation measures to consider include boarding up windows and doors, placing sandbags outside building openings, and installing a backup power system to keep all critical assets working.
  
  
• Secure all business facilities. Take the necessary precautions to protect the property as well as the contents into your plan. Determine what is required to run the business at another location. Find alternative facilities, equipment, supplies, and consider a reciprocity agreement with another business.
• Monitor the storm and its progress. Depending on your state, check these helpful websites and your local weather forecast often for an idea of what to expect from a hurricane and when. You’ll also find timely information including evacuation notices/orders and links to county-specific announcements:
  • Alabama Emergency Management Agency
  • Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
  • Delaware Emergency Management Agency
  • Florida Division of Emergency Management
  • Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
  • Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
  • Maine Emergency Management Agency
  • Maryland Emergency Management Agency
  • Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
  • Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
  • New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  • New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
  • New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
  • North Carolina Disaster Information Center
  • Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency
  • South Carolina Emergency Management Division
  • Texas Division of Emergency Management
  • Virginia Department of Emergency Management
  • Also, get updates from the National Hurricane Center, which is focused on saving lives and mitigating property loss by issuing the best watches, warnings and forecasts

• Keep our claims hotline number handy. Nationwide claims representatives and agents are prepared to assist the businesses we insure should a hurricane become a weather-related disaster. We have people and resources in place to respond to your needs. If you experience storm damage, call the Nationwide claims hotline 24/7 at 1-800-421-3535 or contact your local agent.

Other Resources

Below are additional Loss Control Services resources that will assist you in preparation for an imminent hurricane, as well as recovery after the storm leaves the area:

• Hurricane Safety Tips and Precautions
• Maintaining Closed or Idle Work Facilities
• Preventing Water Damage (PDF)
• Loss Prevention for Unoccupied Buildings (PDF)
• Construction Site Severe Weather Planning
• Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for Construction Sites (PDF)
• Easy-to-Use Guide to Business Continuity Planning
• Make Your Business Hurricane-Ready (PDF)
• Hurricanes, Before and After (PDF)
• How to Prepare for a Hurricane

Questions?

If you have questions after reviewing any of the materials referenced above, contact the Nationwide Loss Control Services team at 1-866-808-2101 or at LCS@nationwide.com.

¹ https://www.iii.org/article/when-disaster-strikes-preparation-response-and-recovery/