Storm preparation for your business and employees

Storm season is here and FPL wants you and your employees to be prepared. So we have created a storm preparation and safety video and several brochures for you to share with your employees.

 

Understand the impact of hurricanes

  • Read more about the effect hurricanes can have on powering your facility.
  • View a checklist of annual preparations you should make before hurricane season begins.

 Know your risk

  • Check your hurricane evacuation level and FEMA flood maps to determine if your business location is vulnerable to storm surge or freshwater flooding.
  • Have your building(s) inspected by a licensed professional to find out if your workplace is vulnerable to hurricane force winds and what is recommended to retrofit.

 Take the necessary precautions

  • If a storm threatens, secure your building.
  • Cover windows.
  • Cover and move equipment/furniture to a secured area.

 Protect data with backup files

  • If dependent on data processing, consider an alternate site.
  • Make provisions for alternate communications and power.

 Make plans for supplies and services

  • Be prepared to work with limited supplies of cash, and be without water, sewer or power for at least two weeks. Store emergency supplies at the office.
  • Protect employees
  • Employee safety comes first! Prepare, distribute and exercise your business hurricane plan for recovery.
  • Consider providing shelter to employees and their families and helping with supplies post-storm.
  • Establish a rendezvous point and time for employees in case communications are disrupted.
  • Establish a call-down procedure for warning and post-storm communications.
  • Provide photo IDs and a letter of authorization to enter the building.

Contact customers and suppliers

  • Share your communications and recovery plan in advance.
  • Prepare a list of vendors to provide disaster recovery services.

Review insurance coverage

  •  Have your business appraised at least every five years.
  •  Inventory, document and photograph equipment, supplies and workplace.
  • Have copies of insurance policies and customer service/home numbers.
  • Obtain Business Interruption Insurance.
  • Consider Accounts Receivable and Valuable Papers Coverage and Income Destruction Insurance. If you have Business Owners Protection Package (BOPP), check co-insurance provisions.
  • Note: Flood damage requires separate coverage and is not covered under other insurance programs.

Know where to get help

Local, state and federal resources are available to help you plan for disasters, as well as help fund purchases of backup generators, storm shutters and other facility-hardening measures. See the list of resources available to you.