3 Tips to Prepare Your St Augustine Business for Natural Disaster

3/6/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO St Augustine/St Augustine Beach's truck out by the Synagogue, downtown St Augustine, after hurricane Matthew's landfall in 2017.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding can threaten the safety of your business and employees. That’s why it’s essential to have a plan in place that can help you minimize damage and ensure your workers are protected. Below are a few tips for developing a protocol plan, including when to contact emergency cleaning services.

How to Prepare Your Company for a Natural Disaster

1. Identify the Risks

As a business owner, you must prepare for disasters, both large and small, natural or manmade. The first step in doing this is to identify situations that pose a risk. For instance, in Florida, hurricanes are a top threat. Other risks might include fires, tornadoes, or power outages. If your business is considered high-risk, such as a laboratory that contains hazardous materials, identifying the potential problems will help you prepare accordingly with an evacuation and disaster recovery plan. 

2. Rehearse Evacuation Drills

Once you know which threats to prepare for, conduct drills with all of your employees so they know what to do in case of an emergency. This should include evacuating the building in the event of a fire, or taking shelter if there’s a tornado warning. Employees should know where all of the emergency exits are located, as well as what rooms or closets are away from windows. If you work with hazardous chemicals, have a list of personnel that will be responsible for turning off flames and other ignition sources and shutting off all electrical equipment. Follow up the drills with a discussion so you can go over any potential challenges that may affect the success of the evacuation. Some issues might include keeping employees organized while evacuating and keeping track of personnel. 

3. Make a Recovery Plan

Each day your business is down following a natural disaster is a blow to your bottom line. That’s why it’s essential to write a recovery plan. Identify the essential systems that your business needs to function so you know which issues must be addressed first. For instance, emergency cleaning services such as fire restoration, mold remediation, and water extraction will ensure your environment is safe and comfortable, so that employees can get back to work as soon as possible.

If your business endures damage during a natural disaster, turn to the team at SERVPRO of Greater St. Augustine / St. Augustine Beach. Based in St. Johns County, FL, this locally owned and operated company specializes in a wide range of residential and commercial emergency cleaning services, including everything from carpet cleaning and fire restoration to mold remediation and water extraction. Their experts can also evaluate your emergency protocol plan and advise changes that will improve its efficiency. Call (904) 429-4457 to schedule an appointment with a representative or visit the website to learn more about their full list of emergency cleaning services.