Five things you MUST consider before a storm hits

Zurich risk management specialists have put together five things you must consider before the storm hits.

• Personnel safety is priority #1. Protect employees while they work at heights, enforce lock out/tag out procedures and electrical safety, use good material handling practices while moving equipment or making preparations and monitor work surfaces to help prevent slip, trips and falls among workers, customers and emergency service personnel.
• Business continuity begins with your people. Consider activating work-from-home procedures and limiting non-essential travel. Be conscious that some employees may be scrambling to find childcare if schools in your area are closed.
• A clogged roof drain can actually collapse your roof. It's fall, and leaves clogging gutters on roofs and sewer systems on the ground have the potential to collapse your roof or back water up into your basement and ground floors. Have your roof professionals clear gutters and contact local authorities to clear sewer systems before the storm. Make any necessary roof repairs now to help prevent more damage later.
• Be supply chain savvy. Numerous major American retailers, manufacturers and distributors rely on goods received along the Eastern seaboard. The American Association of Port Authorities ranked the New York/New Jersey area as the third largest container traffic port in 2011 (Savannah, GA was fourth). Have your suppliers' (and, if applicable, their suppliers') information handy, and review your backup plans in event of a supplier disruption. A supply chain healthcheck may help identify potential kinks in your chain.
• Collect and protect critical information. Take your policy documentation and other important documents with you in the event of an evacuation. Make certain your servers are in a secure area and move to a higher elevation if possible.