Getting Your Business Ready for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season doesn’t just threaten the safety of your home; it also threatens your ability to continue doing business during and after a storm. If you give yourself some time and think ahead, you can take the necessary steps to help your business survive the hurricane and the post-storm recovery period. In order to prepare your company this hurricane season:
- Create a business disaster and interruption plan: This plan should include your processes for hurricane warnings and watches. It will also discuss:
- Setting phone voicemails and out of office responses if you must close down the office during business hours.
- Processes for securing your merchandise, files, and sensitive information so that it is not left vulnerable.
- Procedures for notifying vendors, mail deliver services, and certain clients of your decision to temporarily shut down. Be sure your plan mentions to at least let those clients who might be coming in for a daily meeting or expecting a delivery from you know you plan on shutting down for a watch or warning.
- A plan for the alternative functioning of your business should you need to temporarily relocate rather than close down.
- A list of important phone numbers and information such as policy numbers and agent contact information, employee phone numbers and e-mails, and client or vendor information.
- Secure business continuation insurance: Your business may need to temporarily close as a result of a hurricane or any other emergency, but that doesn't mean you can afford to stay closed indefinitely while repairs are made to your business facility. Business continuation insurance can help you acquire the means to operate your business in a temporary location while repairs are done. It can also supplement lost profits and help pay bills that are due whether you're open or not.
- Check your commercial property coverage limits: Before you head into hurricane season, take a look at your commercial property policy and make sure that your limits are still relevant. If you added new equipment, new computers, new stock or made improvements to the structure your limits may no longer reflect the actual damages you could face during a hurricane that brings about loss. By raising these limits to a more appropriate amount, you ensure that you are covered for all possible damages.
Give us a call at 713-349-0400 to see how Houston business insurance can help your business emergency and disaster planning. We can help you understand the benefits of business continuation insurance, liability coverage, key person life insurance and more.