Our Top 30 Hurricane & Tornado Preparedness Tips for Facilities & Properties

 #1  Check and secure items on roofs (antennas, fans, turbines, covers, HVAC units), yards, and in open vehicles to prevent items from going airborne or suffering flood damage.

#2   Have clean up/board up materials and PPE Personal Protective Equipment on hand  - including protective eyewear, gloves, respirators, dust masks, hammer, nails, drill, screws, plywood, furring items that can become strips, ladder, heavy duty plastic sheeting (4mm or thicker), brooms, mops, pails, trash bags - note that SERVPRO franchise professionals in your region offer 24/7 board up/clean up service if needed 

#3  Distribute an emergency contact list for all staff or tenants and let everyone know in advance how communication will occur

#4  Develop emergency staff assignments to predetermine chain of command - who will perform what, where, and how

#5  Minimize flood losses - relocate critical systems above flood levels and move at risk items - interior equipment, furnishings, or documents to higher or safer locations - as much as 90% of property damage caused by all natural disasters is a result of flooding

 #6  Make sure any flood prone areas are clear of electrical hazards that could energize water and injure someone

#7  Ensure all emergency lighting is operational

#8  Brace and secure any roll up doors

#9  Have emergency contact numbers for your local police, fire, rescue, area hospitals, and your insurance agents

#10  Do a risk assessment - identify potential threats to your building due to your location and environment - periodically walk and photograph your facility and vital contents for your insurance adjustor, backing up off-site

#11  Have mobile devices charged at all times and have a power plan for extended outages

#12  The FCC recommends limiting non-emergency calls that congest and overwhelm networks during crisis - text instead

#13  Make sure interior building emergency exit paths are clear and doors are not blocked, locked, or chained

#14  Review your company's Disaster Management Plan, they are often required by OSHA for employees (who has a free eTool) -  and contact us to do a free Emergency Ready Profile for your building

#15  Shut off non-essential electrical equipment and protect vital digital data, equipment, and software programs with UPS -  Uninterruptible Power Supply

#16  Trim all trees and bushes to make them more wind resistant

#17  Have generators maintained regularly, and keep adequate fresh fuel on hand

#18  Make sure all or key members of staff know how and where to turn off the main power, switch boxes, water, gas, and equipment in emergencies (this info is detailed in our ERP)

#19  Notify your key suppliers, vendors, shippers, customers, and contractors if there is a disruption in your area or an alternate plan, and even if you were not affected - as they may be concerned if the event is in the media

#20  If you have critical vendors that you use, see if they have a disaster plan and contingencies should they experience a disruption themselves so your operations are not affected

#21  Review your insurance policies to determine what disasters you have coverage for and what is not covered, seek out supplemental insurance if necessary

#22  Keep staff first aid training current - know who has medical or volunteer firefighter and EMT training

#23  Have alternative space arrangements in place or at least in mind if you need to operate the business elsewhere if your facility is temporarily disabled

#24  Back up your data, 30% of all businesses that back up their data now do so because they have lost data before

#25  Sign up for emergency alerts and apps to your cell phone

#26  Develop and maintain an evacuation plan for your facility, conducting periodic drills for staff

#27  Create a security procedure for a damaged facility to control access in order to protect property and assets

#28  Check water supply for contamination after an event

#29  Make sure any hazardous materials are safely contained

#30  Have a go-to list of qualified professionals to use for the inspection of the building's stability, systems, and equipment  (including air safety and electrical) after an event to ensure all are safe and operational for employees to return and use

SERVPRO of Great Neck – Port Washington is located on Long Island, in New York.   516-767-9600

September Home-Maintenance Checklist - Series Final

Ever wake up in early September and notice that the air smells different? School begins, days get shorter, and a sense of responsibility begins to creep up on most of us. We've always wondered why "fall cleaning" isn't as popular as "spring cleaning." The air on brisk September mornings inspires us to button up the home in preparation for cooler days, longer nights and the threat harsh winter weather can bring.  Check out these helpful tips:

Clean dryer vent
This is another one of those tasks that should be on your to-do list every six months. Scoot your clothes dryer away from the wall, unplug it, and vacuum behind it. (If it's a gas dryer, turn off the gas supply to the dryer at the appliance shutoff valve.) Unhook the tube that leads to the vent and clear as much lint from the tube as you can. Grab a shop vacuum, go outside, and tackle the outside dryer vent as well.

Inspect your roof and chimney
If your roof isn't too steep, and isn't covered with slate or tile, you may be able to carefully walk on it on a dry day. Look for broken or missing shingles, missing or damaged flashing and seals around vent pipes and chimneys, and damage to boards along the eaves. Also peer down your chimney with a flashlight to make sure no animals have set up house in it. If you can't get on your roof, perform this inspection with a ladder around the perimeter. Pay close attention to valleys and flashings — many leaks originate in these spots. Some patches and roofing cement now can prevent thousands of dollars of water damage later in the winter.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

 

 

 

 

 

 

September Home-Maintenance Checklist - Series - Part 4

Caulk exterior
Think of caulk as weather-stripping in a tube. Any gap on the outside of your home can be a candidate for caulking. Look at transition spots: corners, windows, doors, areas where masonry joins siding, or places where vents and other objects protrude from walls. Carefully read manufacturer's directions to make sure the caulk you buy will work where you plan to use it, and don't forget to purchase a caulking gun. Early fall is a good time for this task because caulk becomes difficult to apply when the temperature falls.

Got wood?
If you have a wood stove, it's not too early to lay in a supply of firewood. Though most of us buy whatever's local, bear in mind that soft woods like fir and cedar burn faster and create hazardous creosote in the chimney, thus requiring more system maintenance and more wood. Hardwoods such as oak, hickory and maple are slow, hot, clean burners. Wood piles attract insect and animal pests, so stack wood away from the house. Wood dries best when it's protected from rain and has air circulating around it, so under the roof of a wall-less carport would be an ideal wood storage spot.

September Home-Maintenance Checklist - Series - Part 3

Check gutters
Do a quick visual check to make sure gutters are clear — they'll be performing double duty soon with rainstorms and falling leaves.

Keep mice out
September inspires nesting in mice as well as humans. Mice are looking for a winter home now, and that newly insulated attic would be just the spot. Mice can squeeze through quarter-inch openings; rats need a half-inch. Make sure all exterior vents are screened, and that there are no gaps underneath garage doors. If you are careless about leaving doors and windows open this time of year, you'll be setting mousetraps later. Pet doors are another favorite access point for rodents.