Planning Could Save Your Business from Storm Damage
Part of a Series on Hurricane Preparedness in Texas
Release Date: May 17, 2006
Release Number: 1606-213
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Rita
AUSTIN, Texas -- If a hurricane is threatening the area where your business is located, you can take actions ahead of time that may help minimize damage and lost productivity, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The following are steps business owners can take to help prevent business losses from the destruction of hurricane force winds.
- Clear out areas with extensive glass frontage as much as possible. If you have shutters, use them; otherwise, use precut plywood to board up doors and windows.
- Remove outdoor hanging signs.
- Bring inside or secure any objects that might become airborne and cause damage in strong winds.
- Secure display cases. Use plywood to protect glass display cases or, if possible, turn the case's glass side toward an inside wall.
- Store as much merchandise as high as possible off the floor, especially goods that could be necessary to survival and in short supply after the storm.
- Move merchandise that cannot be stored away from glass and cover it with tarpaulins or heavy plastic.
- Secure all goods in warehouses off the floor, and place sandbags in spaces where water could enter.
- Remove papers from lower drawers of desks and file cabinets and place them in plastic bags or containers on top of the cabinets.
- Turn off water heaters, stoves, pilot lights and other burners.
More disaster preparedness information can be viewed at www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov.
In addition, business owners may order FEMA's free pamphlet, Preparing Makes Sense, Get Ready Now (9-0618), to distribute to their staff and employees by calling 1-800-480-2520. Shipping charges will apply.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 17-May-2006 09:51:27