Secure Facilities, Buildings, & Plants

Prepare Your Business
Businesses have a critical role in preparedness. Putting a disaster plan in motion now will improve the likelihood that your company will survive and recover.  Ready Business outlines commonsense measures business owners and managers can take to start getting ready.

While there is no way to predict what will happen or what your business's circumstances will be, there are things you can do in advance to help protect your physical assets.

1. Install fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in appropriate places.
2. Locate and make available building and site maps with critical utility and emergency routes clearly marked.
   • Plan to provide a copy to fire fighters or other first responders in the event of a disaster.
   • Keep copies of these documents with your emergency plan and other important documents in your Emergency Supply Kit.
3. Consider if you could benefit from automatic fire sprinklers, alarm systems, closed circuit TV, access control, security guards or other security systems.
4. Secure ingress and egress. Consider all the ways in which people, products, supplies and other things get into and leave your building or facility.  
5. Post emergency numbers for easy reference.
6. Identify what production machinery, computers, custom parts or other essential equipment is needed to keep the business open.
   • Plan how to replace or repair vital equipment if it is damaged or destroyed.
   • Identify more than one supplier who can replace or repair your equipment.
7. Store extra supplies, materials and equipment for use in an emergency.
8. Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not usable.
   • Consider if you can run the business from a different location or from your home.
   • Develop relationships with other companies to use their facilities in case a disaster makes your location unusable.
9. Identify and comply with all local, state and federal codes and other safety regulations that apply to your business.

Secure Your Equipment

The force of some disasters can damage or destroy important equipment.

1. Conduct a room-by-room walk-through to determine what needs to be secured.
2. Attach equipment and cabinets to walls or other stable equipment.
3. Place heavy or breakable objects on low shelves.
4. Move workstations away from large windows, if possible.
5. Elevate equipment off the floor to avoid electrical hazards in the event of flooding.

Prepare for Utility Disruptions

Businesses are often dependent on electricity, gas, telecommunications, sewer and other utilities.

1. Plan ahead for extended disruptions during and after a disaster. Carefully examine which utilities are vital to your business's day-to-day operation. Speak with service providers about potential alternatives and identify back-up options.
2. Learn how and when to turn off utilities. If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on. Do not attempt to turn the gas back on yourself.
3. Consider purchasing portable generators to power the vital aspects of your business in an emergency. Never use a generator inside as it may produce deadly carbon monoxide gas. It is a good idea to pre-wire the generator to the most important equipment. Periodically test the backup system's operability.
4. Decide how you will communicate with employees, customers, suppliers and others. Use cell phones, walkie-talkies, or other devices that do not rely on electricity as a back-up to your telecommunications system.
5. Plan a secondary means of accessing the Internet if it is vital to your company's day-to-day operations.
6. If food storage or refrigeration is an issue for your business, identify a vendor in advance that sells ice and dry ice in case you can't use refrigeration equipment.

Plan to Protect Your Property

Hurricanes cause heavy rains that can cause extensive flood damage in coastal and inland areas. Everyone is at risk and should consider flood insurance protection. Flood insurance is the only way to financially protect your property or business from flood damage.  To learn more about your flooding risk and how to protect yourself and your business, visit the NFIP Web site, www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

For more detailed information on how you can protect your property, view the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration's printer-friendly handout Avoiding Hurricane Damage

In addition to insurance, you can also:

• Cover all of your home's windows with pre-cut plywood or hurricane shutters to protect your windows from high winds.
• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Keep all trees and shrubs well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
• Secure your home by closing shutters, and securing outdoor objects or bringing them inside.
• Clean your gutters and down spouts.
• Turn off utilities as instructed. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
• Turn off propane tanks.
• Install a generator for emergencies
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage, it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.
• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting
• Check and test your sump pump.
• Secure, protect and keep clear of areas in or around your home that were affected by Tuesday's earthquake (i.e. cracked or damaged windows, chimneys or brick veneers)

 After the Storm, Please Survey Your Home, Business for Damage

• If you smell gas, leave the building or areas and call 911 immediately.
• If you have concerns regarding the safety of your building, please contact your insurance company, a structural engineer or a licensed contractor.  For commercial buildings or apartment complexes contact your management company or building engineer.