Commercial Property Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

As a commercial property or facilities manager, you can’t afford to be caught unprepared and left with property damage – that could have been prevented – from a hurricane. Using this commercial property hurricane preparedness checklist will better position you to ride out the storm in good fashion.

Step 1: Protect property

• Invest in and install shutters or plywood to protect windows and doors from wind borne-debris.
• Have the roof of your building evaluated to ensure it can withstand a storm.
• Remove any branches or trees adjacent to your building that could potentially fall and damage it.
• Sandbag any area that is subject to flooding.
• Anchor and brace any large furniture (bookcases, shelves, filing cabinets) to wall studs.
• Relocate any valuable or fragile possessions.
• Secure all utilities including water heaters, gas tanks, and heaters and if necessary, raise them to higher locations to avoid water damages.
• Secure electronics such as computers and other office equipment with straps or Velcro.
• Turn off all the utilities prior to a hurricane making landfall if possible.

Step 2: Protect important documents and information

• Designate important contacts to save that are crucial to business operations, such as employees, banks, lawyers, accountants, suppliers, etc.
• Back-up documents that are not easily produced such as insurance documents, legal contracts, tax returns, and accounting statements to avoid water damage.
• Seal these documents in waterproof containers onsite.
• Save all your designated contacts and documents in an alternate, accessible off-site location.

Step 3: Keep a Preparedness Checklist

The below items should be gathered in one location at your place of business should a storm hit while you are on premises. This will help protect the safety of your employees should disaster strike during regular working hours and without ample notice.

• Battery-operated radio or television
• Non-perishable three-day food supply for you and your employees
• Three day supply of water for you and your employees (1 gallon of water per person, per day)
• Coolers and containers for water and washing
• Blankets, pillows, cots and chairs
• First Aid Kit and first aid manual
• Flashlights, batteries, light-sticks
• Tool kit (basic tools, gloves, etc.)
• Camera for documenting damages
• Whistle/signal flare to signal for help
• Tarps, plastic bags, duct tape
• Cleaning supplies, including mops, towels and garbage cans
• Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers
• Electric generator
• Gas for vehicles, generators and other equipment
• Cash, ATM cards, credit cards proper identification
• Emergency contact information such as the nearest hospital and police, along with:
  • Life safety issues: 9-1-1
  • Small Business Administration (SBA): 1-800-359-2227
  • FEMA Tele-registration hot-line: 1-800-462-9029
  • Insurance company and agent’s contact information
  • BluSky Restoration Contractors: 1-888-882-5875

We hope you never have to deal with hurricane damage at your commercial property, but you can rest assured that BluSky will be there if you need us. And while timely response is everything, pre-planning is even better. Learn how you can be prepared for any disaster with BluSky’s First Aid Disaster Response Plan™.