Protecting Your Property from Summer Storms

Taylor Millet • August 2, 2023

Summer brings warmer temperatures, longer days and the potential for severe weather. As a commercial property owner or manager, it's essential to take proactive measures to protect your valuable assets from the destructive power of potential hurricanes and other summer storms. By implementing the right strategies, you can minimize damage, safeguard your business and ensure the safety of your employees and customers.

 

Below are some effective ways to protect your commercial property from summer storms:

 

Conduct a comprehensive property inspection – Schedule a thorough inspection of your property. Look for signs of wear and tear like loose roof shingles, damaged gutters or weak tree branches near buildings. Addressing these issues as soon as possible can prevent further damage during storms. Consider hiring a professional inspector to assess the structural integrity of your property and identify any potential vulnerabilities.

Maintain landscaping for safety – Trimming trees and shrubs around your commercial property doesn't just improve its curb appeal – it can be crucial for storm preparedness. Overhanging branches can become hazardous projectiles during high winds, causing damage to windows, roofs and other structures. Regularly prune trees and remove dead or weak branches to reduce the risk of falling debris. Additionally, ensure your drainage systems are clear from debris to prevent flooding.

Reinforce business doors and windows – Strengthening your commercial property's entry points is vital for storm protection. Consider installing impact-resistant doors and windows that can withstand strong winds and flying debris. Reinforce existing doors and windows with storm shutters or impact-resistant film to provide an extra layer of protection.

Secure loose items – Inspect your property for loose items that could become projectiles in high winds. Secure outdoor furniture, signage and equipment that can be moved easily. Anchor large objects like dumpsters and storage containers to prevent them from being tossed around during storms. By securing loose items, you can minimize the risk of damage to your property and surrounding structures.

Implement an emergency preparedness plan – Developing and implementing an emergency preparedness plan is crucial for protecting your business and ensuring the safety of your employees and customers. Create evacuation routes, establish designated shelter areas and communicate the plan to your employees. Consider installing emergency generators to ensure power availability during outages. Regularly review and update the plan to account for any changes in your property or workforce.

Review your insurance coverage – Review your insurance policy to understand what is covered in case of storm-related damage. Ensure you have adequate coverage for potential risks, including wind, hail and water damage. Consult with your insurance provider to clarify any uncertainties and make necessary adjustments to your coverage if needed.


Your Summer Storm Professionals 

If you’re a business owner or manager, planning ahead can be a helpful way to ease your mind when it comes to summer storms and hurricane season. By knowing that you are fully prepared for whatever curveballs nature may throw your way, you will be able to move forward with the confidence that, should disaster strike, your business has the ability to rebound quickly. That peace of mind is precisely what we provide at Guarantee Restoration Services with thorough pre-loss planning services that cover everything from cloud-based documentation of your pre-loss building and contents to a detailed action plan.

CONTACT GUARANTEE RESTORATION

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