Hurricane preparedness guide: How to protect yourself from storm-related damage

Make sure you have a current home inventory document — this should ideally be updated annually, at a minimum. Your home inventory can help the claims process go more smoothly if your home is damaged by a hurricane.

Your home inventory should document your possessions and belongings, including a detailed description, serial number, purchase date and estimated value. Keeping your receipts and taking photographs of your belongings — or a 360-degree-view video of your home — are also recommended.

Make sure to store your home inventory in a safe spot, including at least one copy offsite. Regularly back up digital copies.

Proactively protect your business from a hurricane by taking action to minimize the potential damage that high winds, flying debris and severe rain may cause to your property.

• Ensure your structures (i.e., building, signs, flagpoles, fences) are secure and designed to withstand excessive windspeeds.
• Make sure your systems (i.e., mechanical, electrical, utility connections, water and sewer) are designed to withstand excessive windspeeds and adequately reinforced.
• Ensure any openings (i.e., windows, exterior doors, garage doors, skylights) are impact resistant. Also consider investing in storm shutters.
• Hire someone to trim back branches or remove trees that could damage your property if felled.
• Place sandbags or inflatable flood barriers around vulnerable drainage areas to help block excess water.
• Make sure key contents to your operations (i.e., computers, telephones, tools, machinery, inventory) are kept off the floor to mitigate possible water damage. This includes storing it on shelves or raised blocks.

Acera Insurance is your partner in risk management. Speak to a member of our team to determine how best to protect your business from hurricane-related damages.

Keeping your employees safe during a hurricane is of utmost importance.

Proactively educate and train your employees on your organization’s hurricane process. This should outline the steps they need to follow before, during and after a hurricane, and any evacuation or sheltering-in-place plans. Developing a crisis communications plan in advance of an emergency will empower your organization to coordinate a timely process for providing employees with the information they need.

You can find general tips for how to stay safe during a hurricane here. 

A business continuity plan could be the key to your business’ survival following a hurricane.

The document should outline ways to maintain or quickly restore a certain level of operation, no matter if your business is directly or indirectly impacted by a hurricane.

Direct impacts include property damage, whereas indirect impacts include challenges such as lack of access due to mandatory evacuation orders or key suppliers losing critical supplies, resulting in shortages.

No matter the situation, a comprehensive business continuity plan can support your organization in quickly making necessary arrangements and adjustments to maintain some level of operation following a hurricane.

At a minimum, your business continuity plan should clearly outline how your organization will:

• Communicate with employees
• Set employees up to work in another location or remotely, if needed
• Manage supply chain logistics and potential shortages
• Maintain essential services and functions of your operations
• Access key data, systems and equipment

• Remove any debris or loose objects from around your farm. This includes cleaning out culverts, ditches and other drainage areas.
• Securely fasten or anchor outdoor equipment, where possible.
• Install windows and doors that are impact resistant and consider investing in storm shutters.
• Trim away branches or remove trees that could blow onto your structures.
• Park your vehicles undercover, where possible.
• Inspect the roof on each building around your farm annually and repair or replace any damaged or worn materials.

• Clear all eavestroughs and downspouts, ensuring these drain at least two metres away from your building.
• Sandbag around your property, especially windows and doors, if safe to do so.
• Seal your well cap with plastic and duct tape.
• Install a sump pump, with a battery or generator backup.

Find more natural flood management tips for farms here.

Here are some tips to protect your livestock from hurricane winds and flying debris:

• Move your animals to a sheltered area, only if it is safe to do so.
• Never tie up or restrain animals who are outside.
• Remove loose objects from livestock areas.

Here are some tips to protect your livestock from hurricane-related flooding:

• Move animals away from low-lying areas, preferably undercover if possible. Keep all gates closed and ensure fencing is secure to prevent animals from moving to unsafe locations.
• Open gates that provide access to areas of higher ground so animals can move to safety if needed.
• Keep feed stored higher up where it is less likely to flood. Never feed your animals anything that has been contaminated by flood water.
• Ensure your animals’ vaccinations are current as diseases are often found after flood events.

Here are some general emergency preparedness tips to care for the wellbeing of your livestock:

• Make sure all your animals have some sort of visible identification (i.e., tattoos, ear tags).
• Provide plenty of food and water, and ensure you are stocked up on feed, hay and medical supplies. Ideally, you should have enough to last a week or two.

Remember, always prioritize your safety whenever a hurricane presents a direct risk. You can find general tips for how to stay safe during a hurricane here.