Prepare Your Business for Severe Weather in Less Than an Hour

8/24/2021 (Permalink)

Let’s take a look at the quickest, highest-impact tasks you can tackle when you know severe weather is on the way.

There are several steps you should follow year-round to make sure your business is prepared for rain, wind, and lightning. 

Let’s take a look at the quickest, highest-impact tasks you can tackle when you know severe weather is on the way.

Double-check your emergency damage plan

First things first: Know what you’ll do if weather-related damage does strike your business. Your emergency damage plan should outline your building’s insurance coverage, unique risk factors, and SERVPRO of Kendall County's contact information.

Have your emergency survival kit ready

You should always keep an emergency survival kit handy in your business. Be sure to include:

• Drinking water
• Non-perishable food
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Battery-powered radio
• Standard first aid kit
• Copies of important personal or business documents

Keep your survival kit in an easy-to-find location. By having all of these items easily accessible from the get-go, you’ll be able to devote more of the precious time before the storm rolls into other tasks.

Clean your gutters

Water damage is one of the most common (and most expensive) weather-related problems. It comes in the form of everything from flash floods to mold growth — and it costs business owners thousands of dollars each year.

Many preventable leaks can be staved off with one simple trick: Keep an eye on your gutters!

You should routinely clean your gutters and downspouts at least twice per year. If you have time before a storm hits, though, it’s a good idea to give them an extra sweep. This will make sure your drainage system is working at peak capacity to prevent water from accumulating on your roof.

Lock all windows and doors

Another way to prevent water damage is to make sure all openings to the outside world are properly sealed.

You can do this by:

• Firmly closing and locking your windows
• Securing your doors
• Stuffing towels or other absorbent fabric in any draft spaces

Do a quick outside sweep

When you get word of a severe storm creeping in, head outside and take a lap around your business.

Be on the lookout for any immediate problems you can fix quickly, like:

• Loose planters, personal belongings, or other objects that could turn into flying debris during high winds
• Weak or dead tree branches, especially those near your home or business’s windows
• Cracks in your building’s siding that can be sealed with a can of foam

Stay safe inside, and assess any damage when the storm has cleared

Make sure you are securely indoors before the storm’s rain, wind, and lightning hits. It’s better to leave a few building tasks unfinished if it means you’ll be safe. 

Once the weather has cleared, head outside to evaluate the business for any damage. Walk the perimeter of your property and document anything that looks unusual, like:

• Broken glass
• Missing roof shingles
• Damaged window shutters
• Dislodged door or window frames
• Fallen tree branches
• Excess pooling of water
• And more

If you notice any damage, get in touch with SERVPRO of Kendall County right away. We’ll come out to assess the damage, board up any broken windows or doors, and get things back to normal as soon as possible!