An excerpt from Cotton’s EVP of Risk Management Lance Ewing’s column from Best’s Review

Alan King, the comedian and actor, once quipped, “the other day my house caught on fire. My lawyer said, 'Shouldn't be a problem. What kind of coverage do you have?' I said fire and theft. The lawyer frowned. 'Uh oh, wrong kind of insurance. Should be fire OR theft.'” Or so the story goes.

Insurance policies are truly claims policies. Insurers pay their premium with the anticipation that the claim will be paid when the loss occurs to their business or property. Yet many times, that is not the case.

When there is a claim dispute, many corporate risk managers and homeowners jump from receiving the denial of the claim to “Let's sue the insurance carrier.” A better philosophy for a denied property claim would be: Negotiate, mediate, arbitrate and only then litigate. Litigation against an insurance carrier should be the arrow of last resort in the quiver. Litigation puts the outcome of the dispute in the hands of a third party and removes the decision-making from the two...

You already know that Cotton will be there for you in an emergency, but did you know that Cotton will also be there for you when you’re ready to spruce up your business? If you’re looking at aging decor or spaces that no longer work for your growing company, we also shine at construction projects and quality interior renovations.

Benefits of choosing Cotton:

• A single point-of-contact for your entire project
• Assurance that your building can remain occupied and functional while construction is ongoing
• Off-hours construction for completion of loud or disruptive projects
• Flexibility to add projects as work progresses
• Professional, safety-focused workforce

Services we provide:

• Build-outs
• Retrofits
• Remodeling
• Finish work
• Maintenance
• Energy efficiency upgrades

You know that we are experienced in being an agile company, so you can rely on us to get your project done efficiently, correctly and on-time. Contact Cotton today to start building the future of your...

Two years in a row of destructive hurricanes have proven that having a business continuity plan is vital for the health and success of any organization. Disasters come in all shapes and sizes, anywhere in the world, and any iota of preparation can save lives and minimize disruption of your operations.

Cotton can help you refresh your business continuity plan with our first-hand knowledge of current and future risks. Our experts have helped businesses through many scenarios; here are just a few that your business should consider:

• How long can your business survive an operational interruption?
• When was your corporate emergency plan developed?
• Does your business have an alternate operations center if your primary workplace becomes inaccessible?
• What would happen if you lost temporary access to your company’s financial assets?
• Are all hazardous chemicals contained in compliance with current health, safety and environmental standards?

There is much more that Cotton can think through with you as you start the new year with...

Safety is not just a requirement at Cotton, it’s a core principle. Our team encourages safe work practices at all times, on every job site. This holiday season, we encourage our clients and employees to stay safe at home, too. Here are some tips and reminders to help all of us keep safety top-of-mind:

• According to the National Fire Prevention Association, faulty electrical equipment is the cause of 40 percent of Christmas tree fires. Make sure there are no exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets on your Christmas lights. And be careful not to overload your electrical circuits.
• Fireplaces are cozy, but they need to be used carefully. Get your fireplace cleaned and inspected for improper venting every year.
• Some decorative holiday plants can be poisonous and should be kept out of reach of children or pets. This includes poinsettia, mistletoe berries, holly berry, and Jerusalem cherry.
• The National Fire Protection Association reports that 12 percent of home candle fires occur in December. Don't burn candles near trees,...

As winter approaches, it's time to prepare your business for cold weather and storms. In addition to checking windows for leaks and ensuring your heating system is functioning properly, you should give some thought to your roof.

Roofing professionals advise businesses to get their roofs inspected not just once, but twice per year - ideally in the spring and fall. By doing so, you protect your company’s assets, ensure the comfort of your workers, and prolong the life of your roof.

Here are few other measures you can take as a business owner or facility manager to prepare your roof for winter and ensure year-round protection:

• Gather all of your roofing documents into a file to easily access to all of your roof’s information. This will help you keep up with routine maintenance, repair history, warranty information and all of the details of your roof. Don’t let your roof’s information retire along with your facility manager!

• In addition to regular inspections, it’s a good idea to have one performed after severe weather...

October 22, 2018

The Cotton Team cannot express enough how deeply sorry we are for any losses and we recognize how hard the struggle will be to rebuild from Hurricane Michael. Many have lost their loved ones, homes, belongings, schools, businesses and their livelihood. After seeing the storm’s devastation first-hand, we know how hard the struggle will be to rebuild, but we want to extend a heartfelt message of hope.

Cotton is in the region and has mobilized a Command Center in Panama City Beach. We have supplied public and private sectors with temporary facilities, backup power generation, catering, and emergency food services, as well as other logistical support. Furthermore, we are providing the necessary support to our clients in the region by restoring, remediating and reconstructing roofs and structures quickly.

I speak for the entire Cotton Team when I say that we deeply care about the people and communities we serve, and we pride ourselves in these moments to help them piece back their lives. You have lost more than we can imagine, and we want you to know...

National Fire Prevention Week is an annual awareness campaign to educate Americans about fire prevention. This year’s campaign focuses on three steps to take in order to reduce the risk of fire:

LOOK for places fires could start: Take a comprehensive look around your business. Identify potential fire hazards, particularly your heating system and any kitchen facilities, and make sure you have adequate fire extinguishing equipment. Furthermore, pay close attention to appliances that have heating elements and make sure their piping and connections are new and maintained.

LISTEN for the sound of a smoke alarm: You could have only seconds to escape safely once a smoke alarm sounds, so don’t waste any time. Your life is more important than the email you’re...

It has been one year since Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the lives of those living on the Gulf Coast, including the greater Houston area. While the region has shown its strength and resiliency, many are still in the process of healing, recovering and rebuilding following the devastation.

Education is a sector that was hit hard. Many school districts in the region were devastated by the storm, closing their doors and relocating for a period of time while also focusing on educating their students.

One such client was Bloomington ISD in Victoria County, Texas. Located just 40 miles from the coast, the district’s schools sustained massive damages resulting from the storm and had to undergo a large-scale remediation operation. Cotton was grateful to have the opportunity to help the school district through this tough time. What made the project the most rewarding was the response and gratitude we received from our client.

Misty Brasfield, CFO of Bloomington ISD, had some high praise for our Cotton men and women:

“These guys at Cotton have helped me get all...

As Hurricane Florence’s destruction is far from over, please know that Cotton Global Disaster solutions have all who are in the path of the storm in our thoughts and prayers. While the full impact of the storm is uncertain, we hope all remain safe and can quickly recover. Cotton Global Disaster Solutions is on the ground in the Carolinas and providing critical services to help the region recover, reduce business interruption and assist clients with their business continuity plans.

The storm has been on the company’s radar for weeks through its 24/7 Emergency Watch Center, closely tracking its development and landfall while keeping clients alert of their safety and business continuity planning and implementation. While most were evacuating, Cotton deployed its full bandwidth of turnkey services - Disaster Recovery, Construction, Roofing, Logistics and Culinary along with strike and management teams to the region.

Florence made landfall on September 14th as a Category 1 Hurricane near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds reaching nearly 90...

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...