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When it's Important to Stay in the Know.
Stay Ahead of the Storm with a Preparedness Plan
September’s National Preparedness Month sits at the height of Atlantic hurricane season. And with changing weather patterns resulting in increasingly powerful storms, now is an ideal time for businesses to pause, assess operations and take thoughtful steps to remain protected.
From evaluating coverage and reinforcing vulnerable structures, to ensuring your team knows what to do before, during and after a disaster, the right preparation makes all the difference. Your BCH team is here to help you anticipate risks, close potential coverage gaps and create a plan that strengthens resilience when it matters.
Put a Plan in Place to Protect Your Business
Severe weather events are growing in both frequency and intensity. Consider the following focus areas as part of your storm readiness efforts.
Geographic and Environmental Risks
Think through past weather patterns when preparing your business for the future. Are your operations in an area regularly exposed to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires or winter storms? Each carries unique threats, but all benefit from custom mitigation strategies.
Landscape wisely. Large trees close to buildings can become projectiles, while poor grading can funnel rainwater toward entryways. Ensure drainage systems are clear, and reinforce or remove hazards before storms develop.
Structural Concerns
- Consider the vulnerable areas of your building itself. Are there parts of your roof that are known to leak? Is there damage that could allow moisture or debris in — or impact your building’s ability to protect? Pay special attention to doors, windows, roofs and cladding, and make repairs quickly when needed.
- When possible, fortify at-risk building components to offer improved protection. Storm shutters, reinforced garage doors and hurricane straps can all offer improved peace of mind.
Operational Considerations
- Evaluate your power supply, as well as where (and how) you store inventory. Are backup generators available if needs arise? Are important files, tools and equipment secure yet accessible in a second location or through the cloud? Simple pre-storm arrangements can help you avoid downtime and minimize loss.
- Ensure critical systems are protected. IT infrastructure, HVAC units, machinery and the like require adequate protection against issues such as water ingress and power surges.
Named Storms Can Hit Budgets Hard
When severe weather hits, your deductible plays a tremendous role in how much a business pays out of pocket. Our guide breaks the issue down for you, covering how named storm deductibles work, what they mean for coverage and key considerations to keep in mind.
Weather Aware with BCH
Is Your Business Ready for Rising Waters?
Flooding ranks among the most common — and costly — results of severe weather. Even so, standard commercial insurance typically doesn’t cover it. For many business owners, understanding what flood protection entails, which policy is the right fit and how to minimize risk can be a challenge. That’s where BCH steps in.
Our Flood Insurance Claims Guide walks you through the claims process, offering practical tips for safeguarding your property before, during and after inspections. For clarity surrounding coverage options and costs, our Flood Insurance Coverage Insights Sheet has you covered. Download both resources and keep your operations resilient all storm season long.
BCH’s Risk Management Center Aids Readiness and Recovery
With a robust library of resources focused on helping you protect your people, property and operations — and trusted support to streamline the claims process in the event of a loss — BCH’s Risk Management Center (RMC) serves as the calm before, during and long after the storm.
