Planning Ahead For Storms On The Way

3/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Waycross, Hinesville and Douglas is ready to help when storms hit (912) 285-0724

South Georgia Storm Damage

Weather in the South is like no where else in America. Warm, moist air and dry cold currents collide, causing unpredictable weather conditions. The American South can see everything from tornadoes to snow, a rainy deluge and flash flooding to warm, sunny days, all in the same month. To long-time residents of Waycross, I’m sure this sounds familiar.

As a business owner/operator in south Georgia, you have to be ready for anything when it comes to the weather this time of year. A couple of things to think about as winter hits the Waycross area:

An inspection of your commercial site is a good idea to conduct before inclement weather hits. A leaky roof or windows can cause big problems during extreme conditions such as a snow storm or heavy rains. Do all exterior doors fit correctly? Is weather-stripping in good condition? Expensive machinery and supplies can be at risk if what’s outside can get inside.

Communication

Your most valuable asset is your people. Yourself, your employees, clients and family. Do you have a system in place that will help you to get information to everyone in case of a weather emergency? Who is in charge of handling your social media to let the public know of business closures? If an employee is not able to get in to work, do they have contact information so they can let someone know? Most of us use our cell phones to communicate, but in the case of extreme weather, your cell phone service could be at risk. You might consider installing a good old-fashioned landline, just in case. If you or your employees get stuck at work, families will worry, so it’s vital that lines of communication stay open.

Make sure your place of business is stocked with drinking water, snacks, and an up-to-date first aid kit, just in case. A backup power generator can be an important part of your safety plan, in case electric or gas is lost.

Planning

Developing a plan to keep your business’s production in place is important, as well. If most of your business is conducted online, do you have a process in place to keep that moving no matter the circumstances? Is every employee well-trained in that process and able to jump right in if circumstances demand it? Just a few days of interrupted production can be very costly, indeed. Does your business use machinery that can be damaged by bad weather and water damage? Assess that situation and take steps to make sure you and your team know what needs to be done to keep that machinery from harm. Are you storing product that is set-aside for shipping? Take time to think about different weather scenarios. If something unexpected were to happen, are you ready?

The SERVPRO of Waycross, Hinesville and Douglas team, are experts when it comes to water damage, fire damage, mold remediation, and all of your emergency service needs. If your business has received water damage of any kind, or any other such emergency, you can reach us at (912) 285-0724