A winter storm can severely impact business as usual. Losses and damages can actually keep you from opening your doors long after the storm has passed – especially if you didn’t have a snowstorm preparedness plan already in place.
Find out how to prepare your business for a winter storm with these tips so you can keep operations running as smoothly as possible and get back to business quickly.
Prepare Your Staff
Knowledge is power. Talk to your staff about the risks associated with winter storms and what they can expect at work if a snowstorm hits your area. With preparation and planning, your staff will feel more confident in the event of disaster.
Make a List of Emergency Services
When disaster strikes, will you know who to call? Keep a list of local emergency services and post it somewhere easily accessible. For businesses, this list should include contact information for your insurance agent, building owner, heating contractor, plumber, local fire department and snow removal services. If the unexpected does happen, you’ll be able to contact essential emergency services as soon as you need them.
Check (and Double Check) Your Insurance Coverage
Read your insurance policy to make sure your business is protected against damage from winter storms. Don’t get caught without coverage. Check your insurance policy before it’s too late!
Keep Communication Pathways Open
In any emergency, you may need to get ahold of employees and other business contacts to communicate your plan and procedures. Have a contact list for vendors, clients and employees easily accessible so you can notify them of changes as they happen. One of the most important tips for operating through a brutal snow storms is to keep your communication channels open. That means letting employers and your clients know what your situation is before, during and after the storm hits.
Arrange for Snow Removal
When the storm calms down, it won’t be “business as usual” until the snow is removed. Find a company that can remove snow and ice from your driveways, parking lot, doorways and even the roof of your building to keep anyone who enters after a storm safe. Keep the phone number for your snow removal service on your emergency services contact list.
A small investment in winter storm preparation for your small business can pay huge dividends when a blizzard hits. Following these tips will help position your company to “weather the storm” without a hitch.