Is your Business Prepared for Power Loss?

Last September we experienced back to back tropical storms and the loss of power in the area for days. I've previously posted about preparing your business for power loss. As we follow Sandy and the possibility that she will mix with another storm, here are the tips from last years posting.

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The logistics of preparing your business for a storm and the loss of power after the storm can be complicated.  Having a written plan of action can make the task easier. Take the lessons learned from past outages and make a simple outline. The adage of “being prepared” is true and can significantly reduce either your loss or time your business is down.

Depending on your location and the type of storm you may need to prepare your facility for flooding. This may include boarding windows, sandbagging, moving inventory and equipment.  Your business has many unique facets that have to be examined when developing your plan. Here are a few operational items that should be considered.

• Purchase generators or ensure generators are in place and operational.
• Be prepared for cash transactions.
• What type of telephone system do you use? Newer systems do not work without power or have six hour battery backups.
• What type of security do you have? As with the telephone system, security systems often have only six hour backups.
• Backup computer business files. Sudden and/or prolonged power outages can result in data loss.  When complete, store the files offsite. 
• In the winter, prepare for safe ways to provide heat to your business.  

The biggest mistake business owners can make is not heeding warnings and being caught off guard. We can all learn from the recent storms and last winters heavy snows. Power outages are becoming more frequent. Having a plan of action to protect your business assets may be the some of the cheapest insurance available.