The success of your business continuity efforts after a hurricane relies on the effectiveness of your disaster preparedness plans. Because tropical storms are unpredictable and can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, several agencies and organizations offer invaluable information and guidance regarding how to prepare, stay safe and recover.
Add these resources to your disaster preparedness and business continuity plan to make finding the support you need before, during and after a storm simpler.
Disaster Recovery Plan Support
Managed by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Ready.gov offers preparedness tips for a variety of natural and man-made disasters. The site’s goal is to educate the public and business owners to increase their level of preparedness with guidance regarding:
- Basic storm preparedness
- Making a hurricane plan
- Preparing a property
- The differences between hurricane watches and warnings
- Steps to take hours before a hurricane arrives
- What to do after a hurricane passes
In addition to offering assistance to hurricane victims, the Red Cross makes it simpler to prepare for a storm with tips about what to do before, during and after a storm. With the aim to make businesses and citizens Red Cross Ready, the organization gives insight about:
- Making emergency preparedness kits
- Creating evacuation plans
- Keeping yourself and others safe during a storm, whether you’re indoors or outside
- What to do after a storm passes
The Red Cross also offers the Ready Rating program with free, self-paced courses and printable materials that you can use for your preparedness and business continuity plan.
The CDC website offers much more than information about diseases. Because natural disasters affect public health, the agency also offers numerous tips about:
- Basic hurricane preparation steps
- Emergency supplies to stock
- Creating an evacuation plan
- Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning
- Precautions to take after a hurricane, including finding safe food and water supplies, cleaning your property, and preventing mold growth
- How to stay safe when helping your community recover
Because power outages are normal during and after a hurricane, the CDC recommends printing all the important online resources you find so they’re accessible. Place these resources in your business’s emergency preparedness portfolio so they’re simple to find.
Managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service will keep you updated on the latest weather developments as a storm approaches and moves through your area. The best way to ensure that you receive these updates is with a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, or weather radio, which uses the Federal Communication Commission’s Emergency Alert System to provide official information about warnings, watches, and other hazards 24 hours a day.
The National Weather Service operates that National Hurricane Center, whose website features a map of the latest tropical storm activity, links to valuable resources, and tips to prepare and stay safe.
Polygon is a disaster recovery partner that offers round-the-clock emergency drying services, document restoration, and equipment rentals. Our affordable drying solutions revolutionized the way businesses restore their buildings after experiencing water damage while saving money and time. Emergency rental equipment includes desiccant dehumidifiers, DX units, chillers, heaters, and filter modules. With 20 offices throughout the U.S., Polygon delivers its solutions to your door and manages the logistics so you can focus on your recovery efforts.
A comprehensive business continuity plan is crucial for reopening your doors after a storm. Talk to a specialist at Polygon today to learn how our restoration services will support your business in the wake of a disaster.
