Winter Storms: Preparing Your Business for Snow, Ice and More

12/29/2018 (Permalink)

Winter storms can cause frozen pipes issues in your Gladstone, TN commercial building

Preparing Your Business for Snow

Every winter season usually has at least one winter storm that wreaks havoc on the population. Businesses are generally the worst affected because consumers stay home and limit their exposure to the elements. However, beyond business interruption, a storm can also cause significant damage, from frozen and burst pipes to electrical issues. What is a business to do? As a property owner, before this winter season, you should focus on four core areas: preparation, safety, inventory and contacts.

1. Preparation

While storm damage typically consists of broken windows, roof damage and flooding, winter weather adds the threat of freezing pipes to the mix. To prepare your building for the impending season, you can check for drafts, cracks and sealant issues. Make sure that weather stripping is in excellent condition, and ensure that your heating and ventilation system is working correctly, pushing heat to all areas of the building.

2. Safety

When it comes to a winter storm, slip and fall injuries are serious risks. Make sure that you have a plan for maintaining safe walkways and parking lots throughout the season. You can hire a plow service or ask your employees to shovel and salt the premises, ensuring both customer and employee safety.

3. Inventory

The amount of snowfall and fluctuating temperatures can lead to outside flooding as well as burst pipes. The weight of heavy snows, especially when cycling through the process of melting and refreezing, can lead to significant strain on a roofline. Therefore, you should document your inventory, both on paper and by photograph, to prove assets to your insurer in case a claim is necessary after roof collapse or flooding.

4. Contacts

While it is essential to keep all employees in the loop about preparation and potential disaster cleanup efforts, you should compile a list of important operational staff. Additionally, you may want to keep the number of a disaster restoration specialist in the Gladstone, TN, area on hand in case of an emergency.

A winter storm can prove problematic for a business. For this reason, it is vital to prepare and focus on the four key areas above.