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Planning for A Hyperactive Hurricane Season in 2020

May 5, 2020
Jim Wills
This week marks National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3-May 9). While many are working hard to manage impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricane preparedness can slip into the cracks. After four hurricane seasons that each featured at least one violent Category 5 storm in the Atlantic, experts at Colorado State University are predicting an above average hurricane season in 2020, anticipating 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

Being prepared for disasters and emergencies can seem like a big job. The time to prepare for a hurricane however, is not when you are in the projected path but that often becomes the reality. Putting proactive measures in place by engaging your staff or reaching out to professionals like GRS Reconstruction Services (GRS) can make a big difference in the success of your business in the aftermath of a severe storm or hurricane.

Regardless of your choice in partners, preparation should be an integral part of any business’s culture. Required needs like fuel, generators, board-up services, etc. are often top of mind when you are in the cone of a severe storm, however implementing procedures and retaining vendors to be there for you well in advance is key to weathering the storm.

Hurricane Preparedness Steps for Business

A single event can set back the most vibrant business. It is not a question of if, but when. What we do to mitigate their consequences is what matters most. Here are some topics to consider when it comes to preparing for the unexpected:

  • People Concerns
  • Go or No Go: When will you leave the area?
  • Vendor Relationships: Who can help you pre and post loss?
  • Property Considerations
  • Weather Advisories and Category Storm Understanding
  • Storing Critical Documents

For more information on each of the lessons learned above, click here to download our Hurricane Preparedness document. Using these proactive measures can make a big difference in the success of your business in the aftermath of a severe storm or hurricane.

GRS offers clients a fast and cost-effective return to normal operations. We also recommend the following helpful sites and toolkits to guide you through the storm:




About Authors
Jim Wills has over 36 years of restoration and disaster planning experience. He holds his Associate in Business Continuity Certification (ABCP) as well as the Certified Business Continuity Vendor Certification (CBCV) through Disaster Recovery Institute. Jim is a licensed All-lines Insurance Adjuster and has been the Managing Director of Commercial Loss Solutions for two of North America’s largest restoration and recovery organizations. GRS Disaster Response is the first construction management company to introduce the design-build and open book pricing model to the insurance claims industry. Jim has provided consulting services for major insurance companies after some of the nation’s worst natural disasters. He has been a speaker at many trade and industry organizations.
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