Lessons From the Hurricanes of 2017 for All of Us

The hurricanes of 2017 were record-breaking in several ways—and they impart important lessons that all business leaders, regardless of location, should adopt.

The following general preparedness steps gleaned from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria will help your firm prepare for any business interruption, protecting your organization, your insureds and the community you serve:

1) Know your power requirements. Perhaps no other preparedness tip is as simple, easy and cost-effective when it comes to ensuring your organization remains operational if your office’s power is ever interrupted. Speak with an electrician today to determine exactly what type of generator your building requires.

2) Ensure access to multiple vendors. Your business relies on many vendors to perform normal operations, including cellular carriers, internet providers and IT professionals. To avoid any single points of failure, identify and build relationships with alternate vendors for any elements you deem critical to basic operations, particularly those you may need to utilize during a recovery.

3) Better prepare employees. Your people are your greatest asset. Offer information and aid to employees who need assistance preparing for the storm or relocating their families. The sooner their families are safe, the sooner they can return to work.

4) Protect your communications. No recovery can commence without effective, efficient communications. Be sure to have secondary and tertiary methods of communicating with key employees and vendors.

5) Check your kit. Make sure your disaster kit is fully stocked with water, food, medical supplies, flashlights and fresh batteries. Beyond the basics, it should also include things like the company letterhead, business cards and petty cash, since credit card machines are often disabled during power and internet outages.

6) Secure critical data and records. Back up all data on remote servers or in the cloud. Remove or protect any vital paper records.

7) Maintain situational awareness. The only certainty following a disaster is that the situation will be fluid and ever-changing, perhaps minute to minute. Invest some time in determining the best methods for obtaining situational awareness during your recovery.

For more resources, including checklists, case studies and webinars focused on better preparing your firm for business interruptions of all types, visit Agility Recovery’s Hurricane Resource Center.