It’s Hurricane Season – Is Your Workplace Ready?

June marks the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Is your business ready?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges businesses, families and communities to take every possible precaution to prepare for hurricanes. And not just in coastal states. Hurricanes frequently produce flooding and other damage in neighboring states, as well.

“Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and everyone needs to be prepared –
not just those folks in hurricane prone states,” says FEMA.

All businesses should prepare evacuation plans and emergency kits, and rehearse emergency evacuation routes. Emergency plans should consider the needs of all employees. If a workplace includes people with a disability, special steps to assist them may be necessary and should be incorporated into all emergency planning. Emergency kits should contain enough supplies to last at least 72 hours.

Integrate emergency preparedness into an overall safety management system:

• Conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine probability and impact of a loss.
• Prepare or update a response management plan, including individual responsibilities, internal and external communications and emergency response training.
• Plan ahead for business recovery from a crisis/disaster.

Preparation Tips from the National Weather Service:

• Know your zone: Find out if you are in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the evacuation site website.
• Put Together an Emergency Kit: Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters.
• Write or Review Your Emergency Plan: Decide how you will get in contact with workers and management, where workers will go, and what to do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster.
• Review Your Insurance Policies: Review your insurance policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your property.
• Understand NWS forecast products, especially the meaning of NWS watches and warnings.

NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs establishes a common set of criteria that sets a foundation for disaster management, emergency management and business continuity programs. This is also a good time to consider flood insurance coverage.

Learn more about protecting your business from hurricanes or other natural disasters:

• Review hurricane information from the National Weather Service.
• Learn more about NFPA 1600 or download the current edition here.
• For preparedness information, visit www.fema.gov and www.Ready.gov.
• To assess flood risk for a property or find a local agent selling national flood insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov.
• Visit NOAA’s Live Hurricane Tracker.
• Browse hurricane and severe weather signs at ComplianceSigns.com.