The 2016 hurricane season is officially underway, and with it comes the unease of knowing the Gulf Coast could take a direct hit from a hurricane or other serious tropical storm. Although hurricane preparation is often directed towards individuals and families, businesses should also take time to prepare for a hurricane to protect against severe losses and minimize commercial property damage. In today's blog post, we look at some simple ways business owners can minimize potential hurricane damages to commercial properties, commercial fleet vehicles, business assets, and their overall bottom line.

Confirming Commercial Insurance Coverage

One of the easiest, but most important ways for a business to be protected this hurricane season is to confirm their commercial insurance coverage before disaster strikes. Commercial property owners near the Gulf Coast should secure quality commercial insurance coverage to protect against losses to the commercial property, commercial vehicles, or even large trees and outdoor signage. Without proper commercial insurance in place, losses caused by windstorms, power outages, or flooding can cause thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket damages. In addition, commercial insurance can also include Loss of Income coverage, which helps offset revenue losses during a covered event and allows business to meet ongoing financial obligations while rebuilding, such as payroll, taxes, rent, and utilities.

Landscape Improvements

Businesses concerned about possible hurricane damage to their business, commercial vehicles, and business assets should consider the importance of landscape improvements before a storm strikes. Proactive commercial landscape work should focus on three primary areas: strategic tree pruning, installing professional drainage systems, and securing exterior amenities and features. Strategic tree pruning improves tree health while also reducing the opportunity for damaged or broken limbs to cause property losses, personal injuries, or utility disruptions.

Professional drainage systems allow heavy rainfall and floodwaters to flow away from commercial buildings, service vehicles, and other commercial structures. When there is poor drainage, heavy rainfall rapidly accumulates and results in both costly damages and flooding of commercial buildings and vehicles. Outdoor amenities for customers, employees, and visitors to enjoy, such as bench seating, patio umbrellas for shade, or tables and chairs for outdoor dining or relaxing, can be deadly during severe weather. Any outdoor furniture or amenities should be brought inside to prevent further property damage during a hurricane, or well secured with concrete reinforcements.

Develop Hurricane Emergency Plan

Companies should develop a comprehensive emergency plan that clearly outlines all necessary safety steps for employees, what should be done to protect valuable business assets, and a plan for recovery and offsite work capabilities if the company must be closed for a period of time due to repairs and renovations. Employees should know who to contact or where to go if an emergency occurs to reduce potential workplace injuries or fatalities. This proactive step reduces confusion and chaos in the workplace when a hurricane threatens the area, and can significantly shorten a company's downtime after a major storm hits the area.

Although no business can ever be completely safe from hurricane damages, small proactive steps can go a long way in minimizing risk and potential damages that could devastate a small business. Rather than spend weeks, months, or even years rebuilding and recovering from business losses, quality commercial insurance coverage from Aegis allows businesses to resume full operation much faster, and minimize the negative impact of a major hurricane or severe storm. Contact Aegis today at 713-850-7622 for more information on our full range of commercial insurance solutions, or go online to request a free quote today!