Read the article.
PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY FROM NATURAL HAZARDS
1. Most businesses keep on-site records and files
(both hardcopy and electronic) that are essential to normal operations. Some
businesses also store raw materials and product inventory. The loss of essential
records, files, and other materials during a disaster is commonplace and can
not only add to your damage costs but also delay your return to normal operations.
The longer your business is not operating, the more likely you are to lose
customers permanently to your competitors.
2. To reduce your vulnerability, determine which
records, files, and materials are most important; consider their vulnerability to
damage during different types of disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, and
earthquakes) and take steps to protect them, including the following:
• Raising computers above the flood level and
moving them away from large windows
• Moving heavy and fragile objects to low
shelves
• Storing vital documents (plans, legal
papers, etc.) in a secure off-site location
• Regularly backing up vital electronic files
(such as billing and payroll records and customer lists) and storing backup
copies in a secure off-site location
• Securing equipment that could move or fall
during an earthquake
• Prior to hurricanes, cover or protect vital
documents and electrical equipment from potential wind driven rain, which may
breech the building envelope through windows, doors, or roof systems.
TIPS
3. Keep these points in mind when protecting your business records and
inventory:
• Make sure you are aware of the details of
your flood insurance and other hazard insurance policies, specifically which
items and contents are covered and under what conditions. For example, if you
have a home business, you may need two flood insurance policies, a home policy
and a separate business policy, depending on the percentage of the total square
footage of your house that is devoted to business use. Check with your
insurance agent if you have questions about any of your policies.
• When you identify equipment susceptible to
damage, consider the location of the equipment. For example, equipment near a
hot water tank or pipes could be damaged if the pipes burst during an earthquake,
and equipment near large windows could be damaged during hurricanes.
• Assign disaster mitigation duties to your
employees. For example, some employees could be responsible for securing
storage bins and others for backing up computer files and delivering copies to
a secure location.
• You may want to consider having other
offices of your company or a contractor perform some administrative duties,
such as maintaining payroll records or providing customer service.
• Estimate the cost of repairing or replacing
each essential piece of equipment in your business. Your estimates will help
you assess your vulnerability and focus your efforts.
• For both insurance and tax purposes, you
should maintain written and photographic inventories of all important materials
and equipment. The inventory should be stored in a safety deposit box or other
secure location.
• Periodically evaluate the building envelope
to make sure that wind and water are not able to penetrate the building. Do
regular maintenance and repairs to maintain the strength of the building
envelope.
SOURCE: U.S. Department
of Homeland Security – FEMA
Match each suggestion with a probable reason.