High Winds Ahead | Preventing Wind Damage Through Disaster Preparation
Hurricane season is about to hit its peak. Are you prepared? Hurricanes, tornadoes and high winds are known for their destructive nature. There’s a reason the phrase we use is ‘disaster’.
As the potential for high winds to hit your facility increases, now is the best time to brush up on your disaster preparation plan.
Disaster Management Notebook
One of the most important parts of preparation is having a disaster management notebook handy. We go in-depth about it in our Planning Guide. You can request a copy by filling out this form and commenting “Disaster”. The idea of the disaster management notebook has two main focuses: daily prevention and emergency planning. Creating your own notebook can be done in 6 steps:
1. Get a notebook or binder.
2. Add a checklist of daily tasks for upkeep and maintenance.
3. Add an incident report form.
4. Include phone numbers for the following:
- Emergency personnel
- Utilities
- Contractors
- Insurance
- Tenant property protection provider
5. Add a list of materials that will need to be inspected.
6. Include an always up-to-date Disaster Plan.
DISASTER PLAN
A disaster plan will speed up the response time for your employees. This should be created in partnership with emergency response and relief organizations. You can find additional resources here. Your facility plan must include a direct easy-to-follow flowchart of what to do and where to go.
There are a number of disasters you may experience at some point. However, a general list of steps is applicable in most instances. You can also create separate plans for each type of disaster. Either way, having some kind of plan is better than none.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR PREPARATION
“Visualization is the key to success” at least sports coaches will often say so. While thinking about disasters isn’t the best way to fill your time, it can help. Having gone over scenarios in your head makes it easier to follow the same procedure when something does happen.
Here are some additional tips to consider:
- Outline a clear chain of command
- Take photographs
- Use your office as a point of stability
- Establish a critical customer communication plan
- Consider site safety a priority
- Secure the facility
- Customer Service should also be a priority
THE ‘REAL’ ADVICE
A disaster can leave everyone in shock. Dealing with the aftermath can be overwhelming and stressful for ALL involved. Having a well thought out plan makes it easy for your team to respond with confidence.
Remember, in a disaster, your tenants are under extreme stress, and they may lash out and/or act out of character. Don’t take it personally!
You are not alone, so remain calm, breathe, gather your resources, get plenty of rest. While we all hope to never experience a disaster at our facility, the damage can be mitigated through preparation. A solid plan and a well-trained staff will make for a smoother, quicker recovery.
Don’t forget to request your copy of our full planning guide and checklist by commenting “Disaster” here.