TO PREPARE YOUR PREMISES:
Keep your roofs in good repair.
Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed.
Identify outdoor items to bring inside.
Identify additional items to be anchored/secured.
Install permanent hurricane shutters.
Buy and store supplies needed to board-up windows and doors.
Install anchors for and pre-cut & pre-drill holes in plywood boards so that you can quickly cover windows and sliding glass doors.
Brace doors and, where present, garage doors.
Review equipment and furnishings to determine which items need to be protected or removed.
Identify essential business records that should be removed and determine where to take them.
Turn off the electrical power, water, gas, and other utility services to your buildings before evacuating.
TO PREPARE YOUR EMPLOYEES:
Determine which employees will be needed to carry out hurricane preparations.
Regularly update & distribute contact information.
Develop a simple written plan incorporating a set of Hurricane Task Assignments for each staff person.
Outline specific tasks which must be performed, how they will be accomplished, and who will perform them.
Conduct regular training sessions to outline your hurricane response plan and review task assignments
Recommended Equipment, Materials & Supplies for Management & Maintenance
The following is a list of equipment, materials and supplies needed to prepare for and address possible resultant damage from a hurricane. It’s recommended that you purchase and store these items prior to the hurricane season, as many will likely become unavailable when a hurricane threatens.
Several battery-operated radios, including at least one radio on site which can receive National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio frequencies.
Flashlights and other battery-powered lights sufficient to allow essential work to be conducted in the event of power outage.
Spare batteries for radios & flashlights.
Disaster supply kit with contents for use by management & maintenance employees such as: food, water, manual can opener and other eating utensils, personal hygiene items, first aid kit, rainwear, gloves, and blankets.
Tools needed to board up windows and brace doors, including circular or hand saws, drills with appropriate bits, hammers or nail guns, hand or power-driven screwdrivers, and wrenches.
Plywood (preferably 5/8 inch thick exterior type) to cover large windows and glass doors.
Lumber to brace inward-opening exterior doors and roll-up doors on the inside. Boards should be 2 x 4’s or larger.
Tie-down material (rope or chain) for outside furnishings and equipment that can’t be moved.
A supply of pre-filled sandbags to prevent water intrusion at doorways in low-lying sections of buildings, if present.
Ample supply of brooms, squeegees, mops, and absorbents to remove water.
Heavy duty plastic sheeting (4mm thickness or greater), furring strips, and a nail or staple gun for use making expedient roof and window repairs, covering and protect equipment in the event of roof damage or leaks.
Small emergency generator to provide the capability to maintain lighting, recharge battery-powered equipment, and provide power to pumps and tools as needed for expedient repairs after the hurricane.