Loss Prevention Tips
- Identify what potential risks could affect your business during severe weather. Are you near a floodplain or surge zone?
- Develop Business Interruption Plans and implement mitigation measures to minimize loss of jobs and business activity. Know which employees will be unavailable to work in times of crises because of other obligations - children, parents, etc. Have a back-up business location. Keep up to date emergency phone numbers for employees.
- Line up alternate vendors for essential supplies and equipment. Have backup equipment and know its availability. Pre-sign contract on these items of neccessity to avoid last-minute rushes.
- Contact your state or local emergency management office or building official, or FEMA Regional Office for more information on protecting your business through planning ahead.
- Encourage and support local community prevention efforts that reduce the risk to critical local infrastructures like electricity, water, and roads that are necessary for the continued operation of your business.
- Promote awareness of Hazard Risk and prevention solutions among your employees, customers, and the public. Set examples by following fire codes and conducting emergency drills like fire drills.
Preparedness Tips: Take the following steps to prepare for hurricanes or other disasters
Have a "plan" to recover your business
Your Palm Beach County Emergency Management Office has FEMA's Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry and will assist you with information and guidance. Call 561-712-6400.
Create or review your "Employee Emergency Call Out List"
- Be sure that your emergency responders know what they have to do and where they need to go.
- Be sure that nothing has changed in their personal life that will prohibit them from meeting their commitments (child/elderly care, single parent status, illness).
- The team should be prepared to be away from home for at least three weeks, and ready to move upon notification.
- Have a ready supply of tarps, visqueen, and plywood stored in your facility.
- Review and exercise your business disaster recovery readiness and action plans.
Know Your Assets
- Make sure your inventory is up-to-date.
- Do a "Risk Analysis" of your location based on the most probable effect from natural disasters. (Example: wind, flood, hazard vulnerability, fire).
- Line up extra emergency equipment and know its availability (get contracts if necessary).
- Be prepared to use alternate vendors for supplies/equipment if necessary.
- Review your Insurance Policy and know your liabilities. Make changes/modifications as needed.
- Purchase Applicable Insurance. Standard Insurance does NOT include flood and wind damage.
Educate Your Employees
- Provide the "Red Cross Home Safety and Survival" guides to your employees. These are available from the local Red Cross Office.
- Purchase Flood Insurance.
- Provide information and handouts. These are available at Publix, Home Depot, and Palm Beach County Emergency Management.
- Contact the local Chamber of Commerce and inquire about information they need to provide business on planning and preparing for a disaster.
- Conduct emergency drills.
Work with community leaders and know the Community Response Plan
Know what dependencies your business has on the community's critical infrastructure (water, gas & electric, communications).
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