How to protect your business before a windstorm

Zurich uses a three-phased approach to storm preparation. We do this to help you focus your efforts where you'll get the most benefit and avoid wasting time and expense on preparations that might not be necessary.

The three phases include:

Even if your business is not in a hurricane prone area, tornados or high winds can happen anywhere. Most of the actions we suggest you take in Phase 1 will help you with other perils, such as fire or flood. So any investment you make, particularly when it comes to business continuity planning and making sure your building is sound, will pay off under a number of circumstances.  

Some actions to take before hurricane season begins »

Phase 2 preparations are those you should take when a wind event is possible, such as when your location is in the possible path of a tropical storm that is still a few days away from landfall. Here you begin making preparations that you can perform ahead of time. These actions will be useful even if the tropical storm never affects you, such as clearing roofs of debris and backing up computers, or actions that don't require a huge investment of time or money, such as gathering emergency supplies and tracking the storm. Getting these actions completed will help you when you need to start taking the more urgent actions of Phase 3.

Some actions to take when a hurricane watch is issued »

Phase 3 is when weather authorities have warned that your location is in the path of a potentially catastrophic wind event. The actions you take in Phase 3 are designed to secure your property and protect your employees, such as taking in outdoor equipment and fixtures, securing the building and evacuation.

Some actions to take when a hurricane warning is issued »

Although tornado damage typically doesn't cover the large geographic area that a hurricane or typhoon does, the damage they cause can be much more devastating. They're also unpredictable to the point where you can probably prepare only through Phase 1. With so little warning time, the most critical tornado preparation is personal safety.