With Hurricane Irene threatening Connecticut and other East Coast states later this week, insurers and other catastrophe experts advise businesses to take some precautions to protect their employees, property and other assets.
Acadia Insurance, with operations in Connecticut, recommends the following steps before the storm, including setting up a “Go Box” for critical papers and information such as:
- Lists of all employees, key customers and clients along with their phone numbers and addresses
- Insurance policies and agent contact information
- Electronic data back-up
- Equipment, computer software/hardware, and furniture inventories
- A list of emergency vendors, such as plumbers and restoration contractors
- Copies of essential business policies, plans, and agreements
- Photographs of the business and equipment, both inside and out
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Experts say business owners should also consider other pre-storm steps to help secure business property such as:
- Inspecting and making emergency repairs to drains and gutters
- Having all roof-mounted equipment such as HVAC units and exhaust vents properly strapped or anchored
- Installing windstorm shutters or plywood over windows and doors
- Having the main electrical feeds to the facility disconnected to prevent a potential fire caused by short-circuiting of damaged equipment
- Taking the following steps so that outdoor items will not blow away or cause damage:
o           Removing all loose debris
o           Anchoring or relocating all nonessential equipment to a safe indoor location
o           Securing storage of flammable liquid drums, or move them to a sheltered area
o           Anchoring all portable buildings to the ground
o           Securing large cranes and other heavy equipment
o           Making sure outdoor signs are properly braced
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Finally, after the storm has passed, experts recommend the following to help minimize business interruption:
·        Securing the site
·        Surveying the damage
·        Surveying for safety hazards such as live wires, leaking gas or flammable liquids, poisonous gases, and damage to foundations or underground piping and notifying the appropriate utility companies or emergency responders of any such safety hazards
·        Repairing damage to automatic sprinkler systems and getting them back in service as soon as possible
·        Calling in key personnel and notifying contractors to start repairs – after ensuring that safety systems are fully implemented before work is allowed to begin.
·        Beginning salvage as soon as possible to prevent further damage
·        Covering broken windows and torn roof coverings immediately
·        Separating damaged goods, but beware of accumulating too much combustible debris inside of a building
·        Cleaning roof drains and removing debris from the roof to prevent drainage problems
·        Visually checking any open bus bars, conductors and exposed insulators before restarting main electrical distribution systems.
