If you’ve seen the news lately, you know several threats are impacting communities worldwide. Heat Advisories, droughts, and wildfires have become significant concerns even in cities where heat advisories are unheard of. Due to the increase in temperatures, as your trusted partner, we wanted to bring awareness to the challenges businesses face during a drought and offer tips on how to best prepare.
Read below to learn how your business can navigate this challenging time safely and efficiently.
Preparation is Key
Like any other disaster that may impact your community, having a well-thought-out plan for droughts could save your business.
Monitor the weather in your area for sudden heat waves and conservation alerts.
Create and/or review your business continuity plan that details how your company will operate with limited resources and the steps it will take to minimize interruptions.
Consider how these threats may impact the supply chain and raw materials or production costs. Then, seek alternatives or solutions for how you’ll handle these challenges.
Review your insurance policy and ensure you have adequate coverage for a seamless recovery.
Keep your restoration partner’s number on hand in case there’s a fire and your property needs emergency commercial fire damage restoration.
Conserve Water, Electricity, and Other Resources
Historically, droughts are not only a concern for limited water supply but can also heighten the risk of wildfires. For this reason, business owners and property managers should take preventive measures for both scenarios.
Check for leaks that could be increasing your company’s water consumption.
Install water-efficient appliances and nozzles on taps.
Pause outdoor irrigation and/or consider replacing plants with drought-tolerant plants.
Implement procedures that will help your staff monitor and reduce water use.
If heat waves are also a concern, seek ways to minimize electricity usage in your daily operations.
Protect your most valuable asset by implementing safety procedures that keep your employees hydrated and safe from heat-related illnesses.
Prepare for potential rolling blackouts enforced by your local energy provider during heat advisories. Consider partnering with a local provider, like Cotton Global Disaster Solutions, for emergency power during power outages.
Practice fire safety and keep flammable objects away from dry vegetation to prevent wildfires.
Communicate
During moments of distress, it is important to keep customers and stakeholders updated on the conditions of your business. Will you experience delays? Will you need to close your doors for some time? Can you offer assistance to the community? All of this is critical information that should be relayed to your network in a timely manner.
Keep suppliers, clients and other stakeholders updated on your company’s condition.
Announce updates of closures or business hours via social media, emails, and word-of-mouth.
If your business is negatively impacted, reach out to your insurance provider and financial advisors to aid in the recovery.
If you need commercial fire restoration, contact your restoration partner immediately to secure your facilities and operations.
Preparations may vary by industry and company so we recommend consulting with your insurance provider, bank, and other partners to ensure your business is ready for the unexpected. Above all, keep safety at the forefront and remain vigilant to protect your staff and guests.
In the event of damages caused by a wildfire, contact Cotton GDS for rapid commercial fire and smoke restoration.