By: Greg Britton, State Director, Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network
June 1 marked the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. As Floridians, we know this means stocking up on hurricane supplies, starting the generator, and paying caution to any unwanted disturbances in the Atlantic and Gulf.
As the state director of the Florida SBDC Network, I have witnessed firsthand the destruction a storm can have on our clients' small businesses and their communities. As a small business owner myself, I too understand the devastating impact a disaster can have. The implications of a hurricane strike can be far-reaching, affecting not just homes and families, but also the livelihood of countless small businesses. I've experienced the challenges of recovering from a disaster and understand the importance of being prepared.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to be one of the most active on record - with a range of 17 to 25 total named storms. Of those, eight to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes, including four to seven major hurricanes.
While it’s important to safeguard your home, family, and small business each year no matter the forecast, this hurricane season we’re urging small businesses to heed the warnings and take the necessary steps to prepare.
Preparedness tips for your small business:
Failure to plan is planning to fail: In Florida, we’re no strangers to disasters. However, businesses often seem to be under the spell of optimism or denial in believing a disaster won’t happen to them. Don’t let your business fall victim to this belief. Take the necessary precautions to safeguard your business and staff by having a disaster plan in place. A good plan may include provisions to relocate to a pre-identified site, retrieve data, including employee, customer and vendor records, and a way to operate efficiently with a smaller staff of key individuals.
Safeguard your documents: Take time now to secure important business documents, including tax records, legal documents and financial documents. Collect and store these important documents in one place so they can be retrieved easily. Also ensure you make physical and digital copies as backups.
Prepare your team: Your employees are your greatest asset. As part of your plan, ensure that you provide for their well-being and safety. Make sure you can get in touch with your employees after a disaster. Ensure your employees are aware of your disaster plan and understand their roles and responsibilities.
Consider insurance options: Make sure you have sufficient coverage to pay for the potential disruption of your business as well as the cost to repair or rebuild. Most policies do not cover flood damage so you may need to buy separate insurance. Be sure you understand your policy deductibles and limits.
Know you’re not alone: Lastly, know you’re not alone. The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is a principal responder in the state’s Emergency Support Function (ESF) 18 for Business & Industry. In times of disaster, we not only help small businesses recover from storms, but also prepare for them as well. At no cost to you, we can help you develop a disaster preparedness plan to safeguard your business.
