Well, we made it through another hurricane season without one damaging a major US populated area, the 2nd consecutive such season. Superstorm Sandy is becoming a distant memory for some. But, severe weather impacts are still a threat to your business all year round. This is the time to implement common-sense strategies to safeguard your property from the physical and financial effects of severe weather. Here are 8 easy-to-implement ideas that will have direct financial benefits for you.

1. Create a Severe Storm Culture. Don’t think your building or business is immune from the devastating effects of a severe storm. Even if it is not a headline-making hurricane, blizzard, or earthquake, severe weather literally impacts property in all 50 states. Don’t assume a severe storm will not come; be prepared for the worst case.

2. Damage is Beyond the Physical. A large number of businesses fail to re-open after severe weather events. Many, of course, sustained physical damage to the building or to its inventory. But many also went out of business because of a profound loss of computer data (sales lists, business data, codes, etc.). Realize that it is important to not just secure physical property, but your business systems, too.

3. Therefore, Identify Vulnerable Business Entities. What items are critical to your business that may be compromised by severe weather? First, should be your people, followed by buildings, computer systems, heavy equipment, inventory, etc.

4. Anticipate Worst-Case Scenarios. Actually record in writing potential worst case scenarios based on your location, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, earthquakes, thunderstorms, etc. Record all severe incidents of the last 25 years.

5. Go back and Identify Vulnerable Business Entities. For each potential severe weather type, which areas are most vulnerable and how bad may losses be? Look at people, property, inventory, computer systems, equipment, etc. Estimate potential losses and the time and cost for full business recovery for each scenario.

6. What Reasonable Protections Can You Install? Of course, budgets are limiting. You can’t do everything. And besides, there is no such thing as zero risk against the fury of Mother Nature. But what effective, affordable measures can you install – both physical and cultural – to reduce risk of loss? From physical safeguards to your buildings (i.e., construct escape paths, send water away from buildings and paths, raise critical equipment above basement/ground floor) to conducting drills.

7. Back Up Data. As discussed earlier, your data very much defines your business. Make sure you have back up to all of your data in a secure location, such as the ”cloud” or secure location safe from floods, fire, etc.

8. Create Living Emergency Response / Business Continuity Plans. Put all of this in writing: plans to determine how you will respond to severe weather to protect your people, assets, and data plus procedures to bring your business back up again as soon as possible after a disaster. Make sure these documents are reviewed and updated regularly and the right leaders are aware of what needs to be done.

CCES has the experts to help your business and buildings develop a disaster preparedness program to help minimize impacts of severe weather and to enable you to bounce back. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.