Hurricanes, tropical storms and thunderstorms
Surprises happen all the time - both good and bad - but are you prepared for every scenario?
When you run a business, it’s important to have strategies in place in case anything unexpected happens so that systems can continue to run smoothly. And, for something as unpredictable as natural disasters, it’s even more important to have a plan of action so that equipment can be fixed as soon as possible and processes can keep running without a hitch.
Think about it: what would a lengthy period of downtime mean for your customers and your business? Would it mean having to spend extra money trying to get things back up and running quickly? Would it mean having to stop processes and spend time and energy getting them started again?
It can be difficult to consider worst-case scenarios, but planning ahead can save business owners the massive headache that comes with unplanned downtime when unstoppable incidents like floods, fires, and hurricanes hit.
Our specialty is in thinking several steps ahead, so we’ve got you covered if the worst does happen. With our experienced technicians, we go into action mode right away so your business faces minimal downtime.
What to do when hurricanes, tropical storms, and thunderstorms hit
There are ways to prevent any lengthy downtime from happening during natural disasters. When businesses plan out their strategies in advance, they are able to act quickly when disaster does strike.
1. Assess your entire site
Putting preventative measures in place is the best way to minimize damage and downtime during inclement weather.
Businesses should start by running a full assessment of their site, carefully considering what would happen if a hurricane was to hit and identifying any potential crisis or weak points.
2. Plan for all problems
Once an assessment of the site has been carried out, businesses can then move onto planning their strategy for when a hurricane or tropical storm does hit. This should include checking whether the space has viable power options in a crisis and whether any temporary utilities might be needed.
3. Have a trial run
Before the hurricane actually hits, businesses should give their back-up strategy a test run to check everything is working as it should be. If switching to a substation, that process should be thoroughly checked and tested and, if something isn’t right, equipment should be tweaked and plans should be adjusted.
4. Keep everyone in the loop
Making sure all team members and staff know what to do and when to do it during a major storm is an important part of the pre-planning stage. Businesses should brief everyone on what their role is during the disaster; whether it’s handling fuel, fixing things that go wrong, or tracking the plan and making sure everything is being done to avoid unnecessary downtime.
5. Document your plan
Finally, businesses should document their hurricane plan and make sure everyone can easily access it. It’s vital that it’s kept up-to-date and all staff members know exactly where to find it.