Experts are warning to begin preparing now for hurricanes and tornadoes as the U.S. faces the dawn of the fifth consecutive year of above-normal activity.
If you live somewhere in the south or mid-Atlantic coast like I do, then you are familiar with the annual hurricane season ritual of panic-buying bottled water, batteries, and anything else that can possibly be piled into your shopping cart on the way out. However, with the very real possibility that the U.S. will still be battling the challenges brought on by the novel coronavirus by the start of hurricane season, preparations may look a lot different this year.
“April is typically when campaigns begin about preparing for hurricanes,” a USA Today report said. “But directions on evacuation routes and shelters have been replaced this year by pleas to stay home to contain the coronavirus and instructions on applying for unemployment.”
Hurricanes and tornadoes are inevitable, so I have compiled a few tips that will help have you and your building prepared throughout the season.
Planning
In our Preparing a Facility for a Hurricane blog story last year, we discussed the importance of initiating drills for preparedness in order to have your facility return to normal operation afterwards. It remains equally as important today. If you get your entire team familiarized with the possible situations that could be encountered during a severe storm, then it will be that much easier for them to react to it quickly and effectively.
Make sure that the procedures for emergency situations are up to date, and that everyone in your building has been informed of the plans. A part of planning is effective communication.
Get to know all the resources that will be needed to understand the route and the severity of the hurricane. Having quick access to local weather broadcasts will allow you to make a decision about whether it is safe to remain working, if you can get home safely before the storm hits your area, or if you need to immediately take shelter in your facility.
When a hurricane is active in your area with high winds, it is recommended to go to a safe room or an interior, windowless room or hallway on the lowest floor of the building that is not subject to flooding. When sheltering from an active tornado, you need to find a small center room on the lowest floor of the building and crouch as low as possible to the ground with your head covered by your hands.
Equipment
Necessary safety equipment should be stored in your facility so that it is readily available once a storm reaches your area. Anything that is not needed during a storm and located in an area in your building that could potentially be at risk for flooding or other damage should be tied down for extra precaution.
In addition to stocking up on batteries and waterproof tape, I recommend keeping Flood Avert bags in your facility. Although they are a fantastic defense from hurricane-related flooding, they can also be utilized for plumbing leaks in your building.
Flood Avert bags are a compact, easy to use alternative to sandbags. In just three minutes, Flood Avert will inflate from 14 oz to 44 lbs when submerged in water, then they are ready to be installed to create a watertight seal against flooding. bn
When the bags are used in combination with FloodScreen, you can achieve a more secure defense from flood water. FloodScreen is an impervious membrane designed to work with the Flood Avert bags to protect wider openings like doorways with a self-adhering peel off tape.
Roofing
Anything that is permanently kept on the roof of your building should be inspected to ensure that it will remain stable. If it appears that the equipment on the roof may not withstand high winds, then take measures to secure it to avoid possible damage.
Inspect the roof itself as well. Taking care of any repairs to the roof before a storm approaches your area will help to prevent major damages.
Create a checklist
Having a checklist to refer to will ensure you have everything controlled with no need to doubt or worry the action you take when you need to act fast. It is recommended to first conduct a walkthrough of your building, as well as the exterior, to take note of equipment and potential hazards.
Landscaping and parking lot areas could create potentially dangerous debris, as well as any outdoor signs or banners that you may display on the site. Remove any hazardous limbs from the trees surrounding your building.
Test all the emergency generators in the building, and ensure that you have ample power, such as gasoline, if applicable. All other large equipment and machinery should be noted so that it can be powered off, with any electrical cords stored away, when the storm is approaching.
Hurricane watch vs. hurricane warning: What's the difference?
A hurricane watch is different from a hurricane warning, and people tend to mistake one’s meaning for the other. A hurricane watch is issued when conditions in the atmosphere are consistent with a hurricane, but the storm is not imminent. When a hurricane watch is issued, it is best to monitor the local weather broadcasts periodically for new information, and to determine what action is necessary.
A hurricane warning is issued by the National Weather Service when a hurricane is expected to be in the area within 24 hours. Appropriate responses to hurricane warnings include taking precautionary measures within the facility, ensuring that any occupants will be safe and protected, and evacuation from hurricane zones.
We are only at the dawn of an active storm season, but reports of devastation from powerful storms has already begun to trickle in. To come out on the other side of the storm with fewer damages and injuries, it is vital to prepare your facility now.
