Planning for the 2021 Hurricane Season

Matthew Edwards • June 30, 2021

In 2020, many of our partners, neighbors and friends were affected by hurricanes. The 2021 hurricane season began on June 1st, and experts are expecting this year to be busier than normal. The National Hurricane Center has predicted 13 to 20 named storms, with many of those being a category 3 or higher. So, you may be wondering not only why this is happening, but also, what can you do to make plans for protecting your business and family?


Contributing Factors

“Predicted warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds and an enhanced west African monsoon will likely be factors in this year’s overall activity," said Ken Graham, who serves as the Director of the National Hurricane Center.


There are also contributors from climate change and El Niño effects to the water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico.

Improvements to Storm Surge Warning 


The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Louisiana State University and the University of North Carolina have added a new forecasting tool to those used by emergency managers and levee officials. It determines water and flood threats to the New Orleans region. It is designed to detect the type of flooding that LaPlace, Louisiana experienced during Hurricane Isaac in 2012. These improvements to storm surge forecast modeling could result in warnings being issued up to 60 hours in advance of landfall, instead of the 48 hours in recent years. 


Planning and Preparing 

While preparing for a storm, having fuel, water and canned foods are a few things many residents along the Gulf Coast know are important. As vital as these are, however, there are many additional factors in developing a disaster plan for your business. These are somewhat different than your home and family. Some things to consider are:


  • Insurance – Get with your insurance agent to ensure your risk is covered, from business interruption to replacement of damaged equipment. Many people do not review or update their policy often enough to reflect what is needing to be covered.
  • Alerts – Staying up to date on state-issued hurricane warnings.
  • Communication – How will you coordinate your evacuation or operational changes to employees? Who will the employees look to for this guidance? Additionally, identify key members who can make decisions or speak to the press if necessary. 
  • Maintaining Operations – How will you maintain your operations through the storm? You may consider moving call centers to out of state providers when needed. Identify mobile office suppliers. If applicable, come up with a plan on how you will protect goods and materials stored in different office locations.
  • Restoring Operations – When there is a major weather event, finding contractors is extremely difficult. Many local businesses have deep connections with the community, but their resources end up being limited no matter what. If you cannot use someone you typically use, it is to your benefit do the following:
  1. Ask if they are IICRC-licensed.
  2. Ask what type of insurance coverage they have.
  3. Call their references.
  4. Before you work with them, check the Better Business Bureau for any reports of fraud.


At Guarantee Restoration Services, we have 5 convenient offices along the Gulf Coast to be there when you need us most. Our team will work with you and your company to develop a disaster plan that best helps address your business needs and keep you ahead of the curve. It is important to remain diligent in your preparations and planning before the threat of a storm arrives.

CONTACT US

How to Respond to Property Damage in the First 24 Hours

By Shawn Folks • May 20, 2026
When a disaster strikes and a loss happens, the clock starts immediately. The first 24 hours after a storm event or a fire loss are the most critical for any property. It is at this time that major decisions need to be made, the damage is either controlled or spreads, and the path to recovery is determined. These decisions are often rushed, unclear, and reactive without a plan in place. This is where having a pre-loss plan makes a measurable and meaningful difference. A pre-loss plan creates a clear starting point for you and your team instead of scrambling to figure out who to call, what steps to take, or how to protect the property. It removes reactive hesitation and replaces it with action to recover. Everyone involved knows their role and understands the process, allowing them to move quickly without second guessing. Speed matters in restoration. Water continues to spread; materials continue to deteriorate, and secondary damage, like mold, can begin in as little as 24 to 48 hours. The faster a response is initiated, the more damage can be contained. Pre-loss planning allows that response to begin immediately, not hours or days later. Other than fast action, it also brings clarity during a very chaotic and challenging moment. Property managers, facility teams, and business owners are not left out in the dark trying to make high-pressure decisions on the spot. Instead, they are following a plan that has already been thoroughly thought through, discussed, and tailored to their specific property’s needs. Communication can become fragmented without a plan. Another advantage to pre-loss planning is coordination. There are several moving parts including emergency services, restoration teams, and insurance carriers. Having a plan streamlines communication ensuring that everyone involved is aligned from the start. At Guarantee Restoration Services, pre-loss planning is designed to support the exact moment the dust settles. It’s not just about preparing documents to sign ahead of time; it’s about setting up our partners and clients to respond with confidence when it matters the most. From established points of contact to documented site conditions and response protocols, everything is built to protect time, reduce damage, and maintain control.  Many people think preparation is about preventing the worst from happening. Rather, it is about being ready when it happens. Because when those first 24 hours hit, you do not want to be figuring things out. You want to be executing a well-formulated, personalized plan for recovery. Call us today...where 24/7 isn’t just a number, it’s a GUARANTEE!

Meet The Team | Brian McCaughan

By Christina Mullins • May 13, 2026
Behind every successful project at Guarantee Restoration Services is a team member dedicated to making a difference. This month, we’re proud to feature Brian McCaughan, Mitigation Manager at our Gulfport Branch. With more than two decades of industry experience and a strong belief in teamwork, Brian continues to lead by example both in and out of the field.

When Every Minute Counts: Why Pre-Loss Planning Is Essential

By Zack Klein • May 5, 2026
Pre-loss planning is not flashy or attention grabbing until you’re standing in the middle of a disaster and wondering what happened and what happens next. At Guarantee Restoration Services, it is one of the most important conversations we can have with our partners and clients, because preparation can mean the difference between complete chaos or a controlled situation. What Is Pre-Loss Planning? This service our team offers is exactly what it sounds like. It’s putting a plan in place before something goes wrong. Whether it’s a fire, a severe storm, or a flood, the first few hours matter more than anything. Decisions are made quickly, vendors are being called, and people are trying to figure out who is responsible for what and where. Without a proper plan in place, that moment is stressful, delayed, and more expensive than it needs to be. We have seen it firsthand, time and time again, those properties that have a solid pre-loss plan in place recover faster, experience less downtime, and have a much smoother path to normalcy. Properties that don’t have a plan are left to react instead of responding.
VIEW ALL BLOGS