Property owners must know what to do and the steps they must take in the aftermath of a devestating hurricane. For example, Florida suffered an estimated $1.8 billion from Hurricane Ian. Even businesses with adequate property and casualty insurance can struggle to get back on their feet in this situation. How can you recover as a business owner after a natural disaster? The answer is to take a deep breath, evaluate your circumstances and follow these steps.
Use Your Property and Casualty Insurance
Hurricane Ian washed away causeways, left orchards bare, and left homes underwater, showing how destructive nature can truly be. After a hurricane, your business may have significant structural damage, requiring extensive repairs. Your policies will pay you to rebuild if you have the right insurance.
Stay Up-to-Date With Government Directives
Government agencies closely watch the weather and disaster reports to keep residents safe. For example, hard-hit areas may be off-limits during clean-up efforts. As a result, it’s crucial to keep up with directives via the news or government websites.
Agencies also coordinate relief efforts, some of which target essential businesses to provide more support for the community. Staying up-to-date on these efforts ensures you receive the support needed to reopen.
Clear Property of Debris
Flood waters left in the wake of Hurrican Ian and other natural disasters are more dangerous than you think, as they contain the following:
• Bacteria
• Sewage
• Mold and mildew
As a result, you should hire professionals to handle draining and water damage repairs. You may also have to remove large debris requiring heavy machinery. Entrusting the job to professionals minimizes the risk of injury and shortens the recovery timeline.
Reach Out to Employees
Once the dust has settled, you should reach out to employees to learn about their circumstances. Unfortunately, over 100 people died when Hurricane Ian hit, meaning there’s a real possibility your employees may have passed, sustained injuries, or must care for hurt family members. Individuals without coastal home coverage may also have no way to rebuild houses devastated by the storm.
It’s essential to be compassionate and work with employees during this time. Employers and workers need each other to rebuild, but everyone involved is only human, so make reasonable accommodations as necessary.
Update Your Property and Casualty Insurance Policy
The more your property and casualty insurance covers, the better your footing when disaster strikes. For example, business income policies pay out for income loss incurred during temporary relocation or repairs. Since rebuilding after a natural disaster can take months, even with government support, this option can be the difference between reopening and closing for good.
It’s important to note that property and casualty policies usually don’t cover flooding, a significant concern for businesses in a hurricane-prone area. Instead, you may need to get separate flood insurance.
About The Hilb Group
Deciding what coverage you need and what limits and deductibles make the most sense can be tricky. Founded in 2009, the Hilb Group has been helping clients to make sense of their options and make the smartest choices for their circumstances. Whether you need Warehouse Insurance or any other type of business or personal coverage, we encourage you to contact our friendly, experienced, and capable team today. Call us at (800) 776-3078 for a consultation.