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Tips For Getting Your Business (And Yourself) Through A Natural Disaster September 24, 2013 (0 comments)

New York, NY—As the flood waters rise in Colorado, the citizens of Moore, OK rebuild after last spring’s devastating tornado, and the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy approaches (hurricane season officially ends November 30), Jewelers UnBlocked Insurance offers these reminder tips to help ensure your business, your employees, and your family remain safe through any natural disaster. 

General Preparations. Research your area. What natural disasters are you most likely to encounter? Get prepared by visiting and taking American Red Cross’ “Ready Rating” assessment by visiting http://www.readyrating.org and http://www.ready.gov.

Create a disaster recovery plan in advance, with a “disaster kit” ready containing all necessary supplies.  Here are some general must-haves for personal safety:

• Water (one gallon of water per person, per day)
• Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Prescription medications
• Food, water, and other pet care needs for your pets. Make sure they’re properly identified with collars, tags, and microchips bearing your name and contact information.
• Hand crank flashlight
• Hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
• Can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter, or solar charger

Develop shelter-in-place protocol. You can create customized emergency plans for your business by visiting both the websites listed above. You also can track natural disasters by downloading American Red Cross apps, available for free.  The American Red Cross has created the following apps to track natural disasters: tornado, hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, first aid, and shelter finder.                       –

For your business:

• Anticipate how much time you will need to secure all of your goods in safes and vaults. A rushed closing will increase the likelihood of goods NOT being accounted for and secured properly.
• Have updated photos of all merchandise and products: before and after.
• Keep multiple copies of records, in-store and in other secured locations such as safety deposit boxes.
• Always have your product up-to-date with your insurance provider.
• Prepare a communications strategy on how you’ll warn management, employees and customers of a natural disaster.
• Have several battery operated two-way radios (i.e., walkie talkies) accessible, charged and available to use in the event of a natural disaster.  Landlines and mobile phone services are not always reliable during emergencies. The two-way radios will allow employees and management to communicate before, during, and after natural disaster. Depending on the disasters that are likely to occur in your area, look into purchasing the most appropriate radios (e.g. water resistant, wide range, float-able, etc.)

 Your Store, In the Event of a Natural Disaster:

• Jewelers should ensure that entry to their store/office is safe before entering.
• Be cautious when entering the store/office after the event, there may be fallen debris.
• Shut-off electricity immediately if you see frayed wires or sparks.
• Should there be a loss of power, remember that most alarm system back up batteries only provide a couple hours of power. This could compromise your coverage. Have a plan in place to have security or store managers ready to return to the store for continuous insurance coverage should there be an extended loss of power.
• Follow all recommendations of local authorities. 
• Take photos of all damages and merchandise as soon as you return to the store/office.
• If you think you need to make a claim, don’t delay. Call your insurance provider as soon as possible. An agent will be able to assist with the next steps.
• Require proper identification from any claims adjusters, service, repair or maintenance professionals post natural disasters. Thieves look for opportunities to take advantage when everyone’s emotions are running high and attention is focused elsewhere.

 In the event of a hurricane or flood:

• Know your hurricane risks. A “hurricane watch” means a hurricane is possible, usually within 36 hours.  A “hurricane warning” means a hurricane is expected, usually within 24 hours.
• Know the elevation of your property to see if land is flood-prone.
• Seal showcase displays in plastic bags and store inside sealed display cases.
• Place products within plastic bags in showcases.
• Elevate goods to protect them from flooding, preferably in a safe-deposit box located at the highest possible elevation off the floor.
• Attach a note to your safe with a return address should the safe be found outside your premises after the storm.
• Use storm shutters or pieces of plywood to board up windows and glass exposures.
• Unplug electronic appliances and turn off electricity and the main water valve.
• Photograph the interior of your store, including the office. Print two copies; take one with you and keep the other in a safe-deposit box.
• Know where levees and dams are located near the store/office.
• If you are in a coastal area, know the safe routes inland.
• Notify business neighbors and family members of your evacuation plans.
• Set the alarm.
• Lock up store/office and leave.
• Don’t attempt to drive across flowing water!

In the event of a tornado:

• Put jewelry in bank safety deposit box, preferably in a windowless room.
• If you have a large vault, that might be the safest place during a tornado.
• Replace gravel/rock landscaping with shredded bark.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your store/office.
• Develop a tornado safety plan with employees.
• Close and lock all windows.
• Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table and hold on to it.

 In the event of an earthquake:

• Determine how the contents of your store/office (merchandise, display furniture, and fixtures) would respond to the earthquake motions and forces.
• Lower display cases’ center of gravity by adding weight to the lower parts of the display assembly or adjusting the base to height ratio.
• Restrain showcase displays by firmly securing them to the display case.
• Allow sliding of the display furniture by the use of base isolation mechanisms or firmly anchor to the floor.
• Place soft buffering foam pads between items in close proximity.
• Develop an evacuation plan with employees
• Determine if secondary hazards from an earthquake exist as a result of the location of your store/office, such as a landslide, flooding or tsunami.
• Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and maintain an on-site hose with heavy water pressure.

 Preparing for a snowstorm:

• Perform regular inspection of your roof. Look for damage of missing shingles, as well as damaged flashing.
• Check roof for any areas containing leaves, twigs, or miscellaneous debris. These materials tend to collect where they may gather water or moisture-which can break down shingles on your roof.
• Keep your gutters clean to allow snow to melt and drain properly from your roof and into the downspouts.
• Make sure your gutters are firmly secured, with no gaps between them and the fascia.
• Keep water away from your store/office as much as possible. Clear snow from basement window wells to prevent it from seeping through the window frames.
• Shovel snow away from your building’s walls if possible to reduce water intrusion.
• Watch out for snow-covered trees close to your store/office since branches can break and cause damage to nearby structures.
• During winter seasons, always have a dry welcome mat when customers enter your store/office to avoid slippage.

The aftermath. Separately, the New Jersey office of emergency preparedness says the emotional impact of a disaster can linger for months if not longer, especially for people who have experienced a loss during the event. In addition to obvious grief, other symptoms of emotional trauma from disasters also include nightmares, new fears of weather or separation from loved ones, irritability, insomnia, inability to concentrate, and more. There's no set pattern or time to grief and recovery, so allow people to take the time they need to process what happened. But if someone hasn't shown any progress in healing after a prolonged period of time, professional grief or other counseling may be needed.

Top image: Tornado devastation in Moore, OK. Photo: TheAtlantic.com