How to Prepare Your Organization for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is officially underway, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center predicts above-average activity with potentially 14 to 21 named storms this year.
The damage and disruption of hurricane wind and floods pose a significant risk to business continuity, so proper preparation is key. Below are key steps organizations should take during Hurricane Season to ensure that:
Employees know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.
They can communicate effectively in any severe weather event.
Develop an Emergency Action Plan
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends creating an emergency action plan (EAP) to provide guidelines for actions during workplace emergencies. A strong emergency plan paired with sound employee training results in fewer mishaps. The scope of the plan depends on the size and type of workplace. While creating your plan, here are some things to consider:
Your plan should be site-specific regarding evacuation policies and operations, emergency reporting mechanisms, and alarm systems.
Utilize OSHA’s EAP Checklist to guide your planning that identifies potential issues and how to address them.
Include your employees in the planning process and ask them to provide recommendations on appropriate emergency responses.
Include a diagram of the facility with exit routes in the plan.
Plan an organization-wide meeting to review the plan.
Provide a copy of the plan to all employees.
Select an Emergency Coordinator to Guide Emergency Planning and Training
In a hurricane emergency, an assertive leader will keep everyone calm, organized, and informed; therefore, one individual must create the EAP, share it with all employees, and be prepared to facilitate evacuation before a hurricane approaches. The coordinator will oversee emergency procedures, notify outside assistance, and direct the shutdown of utilities or machinery if needed.
The coordinator should be aware of local and national news reporting and follow community guidance from emergency officials if evacuation is required. Weather monitoring systems such as Alertus’ Threatwatcher™ service are valuable tools for offices and facilities that broadcast real-time weather updates from the National Weather Service. OSHA also has a Hurricane Preparedness and Response Page that includes helpful information on hurricane watches/warnings.
The emergency coordinator should review the EAP with all employees and conduct drills annually so everyone can practice organized evacuations. Encourage employees to assemble a basic emergency supply kit with enough food and water for several days and flashlights and batteries. More can be added based on individual needs.
During and After the Storm
When a hurricane watch is issued, organizations must act quickly to communicate with employees and implement their plans before the storm picks up. Secure your facility for the hurricane, and provide essential business continuity information after the storm.
To disseminate this information, companies can utilize mass notification systems to reach all employees and visitors in various ways that ensure everyone gets alerts, on-site or on the go. Personal alerting methods include push notifications through mobile apps or cell broadcasting, allowing geo-targeting of any mobile device connected to a designated network. Within a facility, desktop notification, digital signage, IP speakers, and audio devices provide broad reach across high-occupancy areas to quickly inform occupants of a hurricane emergency and how to respond.
Alertus can help companies prepare for alerting during hurricanes/severe weather events with many tools to monitor weather in real-time, communicate emergency messages throughout your organization, and unify your existing notification investments under one powerful platform. Check out our leading mass notification solutions for severe weather and prepare for hurricane season today.