When surfing the net, did you ever stop to think that someone may be staring back at you? As technology advances, more and more of our lives are intertwined with the internet through online shopping, banking, email communication, social media, and more. Being proactive provides the greatest protection against online threats.

Cotton wants to help you protect your privacy by providing a few online safety tips:

● Recognize that you are an attractive target to hackers.

● Practice good password management: 8 Character passwords are no longer sufficient. It’s best to use a long nonsensical mix of characters, numbers and symbols.

● Use a unique password for each of your accounts.

● Never share your passwords. Never write it down. Use a password manager such as LastPass or Dashlane.

● Never leave your device unattended for any length of time – computer, phone, or tablet. Lock it up so no one can use it while you are gone. This includes USB flash drives...

The heat this summer is inescapable, affecting almost every region of the United States. Whether you are walking to your car or performing a strenuous task at the job site, your body is always working to maintain a balance and sustain its core temperature. As the heat index rises above 103°F in some regions, there is a high risk of heat-related illness; therefore, additional measures to protect your body must be taken. Heat-related illnesses are a serious hazard especially for those who are working outdoors during summer months. Follow these hydration safety tips to ensure your health and well-being during these scorching months:

Don’t wait until you are thirsty

If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Instead, drink small amounts frequently at regular intervals: 8 ounces every 30-45 mins.

Carry a Drink Bottle

You are more inclined to drink when fluids are readily available. Aim to refill a 27 ounce drinking bottle at least once every hour.

Pre-hydrate

Drink plenty of fluids in the hours...

It’s finally summertime! That means most will opt to celebrate the season outdoors. Soaking in the sun can mean being out by the pool, beach vacations, cookouts, and other outdoor activities. However, when having fun in the sun it should also be second nature to take steps to protect yourself from UV radiation. Whether you’ve got a vacation coming up or simply spending time outside, we’ve got you covered! Safeguard yourself and your family this summer and stay healthy with sun safety tips and recommendations from the Cotton Safety Team.

• Cover up. Shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays by wearing long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and breathable pants. All fabrics block UV rays to some degree, but for the most effective protection invest in outdoor clothing that carries an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating. The UPF rating measures how well different fabrics block UV rays. The most effective UPF rating is from 15 to more than 50.
• Plan around the sun. It’s imperative to limit direct sun exposure during peak sun times...

June marks the official start of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the outlook to be historically more active than years past. Cotton Global Disaster Solutions urges you to take steps to protect your employees and safeguard your business. It only takes one storm to change the course of your life and your company’s fate. Hurricanes are among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. Emergency planning and preparedness for natural disasters is the key to a quick response and recovery when disaster strikes.

Cotton Global Disaster Solutions is here to help you weather through the storm. Start by downloading our Hurricane Business Continuity Planning and Recovery Guide.

Before our Cotton Global Disaster Solutions teams initiate the response and recovery phases following a disaster, much activity happens behind the scenes in Cotton’s 24/7 Watch Department. Information and speed are key to efficiency in our line of work, and the Cotton Watch team is dedicated to being at the forefront when a disaster strikes. This department is a critical component of our overall disaster mitigation and recovery process and the attention to detail taken in their preparedness efforts are paramount to completing successful projects for our clients.

In disaster scenarios, the environment and conditions can change instantly. Because of this, up-to-the minute information is extremely valuable in planning and preparing your business and employees for disaster. Cotton Watch analyzes risk factors and criteria that have the potential to affect your facilities all around the globe. Through severe weather tracking, social media monitoring, geo plotting our clients’ complete property portfolio and utilizing proprietary techniques,...

2017 saw unprecedented hurricane activity in the Western Hemisphere, wreaking havoc in the Southern Pacific, Caribbean, Gulf, and Atlantic. As Edmund Burke stated “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” In order to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, Cotton Global Disaster Solutions recommends taking a look back at our 2017 Hurricane Season In Review. The infographic not only gives an extensive breakdown of last year's storm activity, and devastation, but also highlights Cotton's turnkey solutions and our multi-divisional response to the seasons quadruple punch.

Of course, the best planning doesn’t always safeguard us from the full wrath of Mother Nature, but proper measures can be taken to mitigate costs for your business. The devastation from these storms was catastrophic, causing billions of dollars in capital losses, operational expenses, infrastructure, and sadly, human life. In August, Hurricane Harvey affected more than 6 million people across Texas...

Learn more about four Spring weather hazards to be prepared for

Spring arrives with generally warmer temperatures and lush greenery, however, the season can also bring severe weather. As temperatures can swing back and forth, with sunny days being followed by stormy nights, Cotton wants you to be aware of the dangers that may occur in this coming season. Take these steps to stay safe if severe conditions are predicted for your area that may affect your business.

THUNDERSTORMS Thunderstorms can cause the most severe weather bringing tornadoes, flooding, hail, and especially lightning. According to American Red Cross, lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Take thunderstorm watches and warnings seriously, as people may be harmed by either ignoring them or missing the signals.

• Identify trees that have weak branches that may be struck by lightning and cause damage to people, vehicles, or...

Give your business the ultimate gift and join Cotton's Preferred Client Program

February is a month where we show our love and affection to those who are special in our lives. Valentine's day is upon us and many have spent the last couple weeks thinking of creative ways to show how much they care. At Cottonwe think the same care, affection, and attention to detail that you put into planning your Valentine’s day should also be shown towards your business!

As with any great surprise, gift, or celebration, preparation is key. Prepare your business the same way by being prepared for possible disasters resulting in loss of work, capital, or your entire business altogether. Give your business the ultimate gift and become one of Cotton's “sweethearts” by pre-aligning your business continuity plan with Cotton's specialized recovery...

We are pleased to announce that Richard (Rick) Leiby has recently joined the Cotton Commercial USA team as the Director of Construction Sales. This is an integral component of Cotton’s Global Disaster Recovery Division. He brings extensive client network knowledge that spans over 30 years providing synergies across most of the Cotton Holdings markets. Rick has held various positions of increased responsibilities since 1981 within the Schindler Elevator Corporation. Early roles included Application Engineering, Service and New Installation/Construction Sales, Project Management, District and Regional Sales Management in a 10-state territory, with eventual P&L responsibilities as General Manager in the Southeast Texas region. Previous corporate moves include offices in Philadelphia, Washington/Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and for the last 21 years, working in Houston.

Rick’s primary role at Cotton will be to secure new construction opportunities, focusing on the greater Houston region. He is eager and excited to provide his sales, business development and support...

Put a business continuity plan in place in 2018

After deadly hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms, 2017 was a year of unparalleled natural disasters while also being the most costly year on record for weather-related disasters in the United States. As 2017 has come to a close, and businesses analyze and reflect on the the past year, a good opportunity exists to implement new processes based on lessons learned. Cotton invites all of our clients and prospective clients to not only continue to prepare for unforeseen events, but also enlist Cotton’s turn-key solutions in order to achieve cost-savings following a potential disaster event.

The total economic impact of hurricanes in 2017 is estimated to be $370 billion in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean. Not all these losses could have been prevented, but their magnitude could be much smaller. As an example, the economic loss is not only how much a commercial building was damaged, or how much it will cost to repair the structure, but...