As we welcomed those long-awaited summer months, we also ushered in hurricane season. And this year’s hurricane season looks to be another eventful one with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecasting an above-normal season with up to 20 named storms.
With the warmer, dryer weather and the current severe drought conditions across the west, also comes more wildfires, which could pose a threat to homeowners and business owners as well, including those in the wood niche.
Whether it’s wind, water or fire damage, a business interruption due to power outages or evacuation orders, a hurricane or wildfire can leave a business out of operation for days or more. Fire damage, smoke, evacuation orders and power outages can have enormous consequences on any business’s bottom line.
For example, last year when Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 hurricane, ravaged Louisiana, loggers and sawmills struggled with supply access, downed power lines and minor damage to some facilities due to wind. This left some facilities nonoperational for several days, according to Timber Processing.
Fortunately, there are steps business owners in the wood industry can take to protect their properties and personnel from these disasters. While the right insurance is critical, proper preparation and risk mitigation can minimize damage before it happens.
Consider these risk management steps before a hurricane:
- Have roofs regularly inspected, repaired and replaced as necessary.
- Install impact-resistant windows and doors.
- When a storm is imminent, board up windows and sandbag doors where appropriate.
- Move outdoor equipment and inventory indoors where possible.
- Train staff on a hurricane plan.
- Follow local authority’s evacuation orders.
Consider these risk management steps before a wildfire:
- Keep property cleared of outlying brush and create clearances.
- Manage vegetation that can fuel fires.
- Understand where water is located and store water where public water is inaccessible.
- Create defensible space and a noncombustible zone of 5 feet around the property.
- Get to know your area firefighters so they know your property.
- Train staff on a wildfire preparedness plan and fire safety.
- Follow local authority’s evacuation orders.
While we can’t stop Mother Nature, we can take steps to soften the blow when a storm, hurricane or wildfire hits. Visit PLM’s loss control guides to learn more.
