Planning for the 2021 Hurricane Season
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:
- Ask if they are IICRC-licensed.
- Ask what type of insurance coverage they have.
- Call their references.
- 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.
