Hurricane season takes up a lot of real estate in the calendar. From June 1 through November 30, most individuals along the southern coast of the United States are aware of the risks of hurricanes. Local governments are often reminding everyone to be prepared and stay prepared. Your self-storage business requires that same preparation.
Hurricane preparedness starts long before hurricane season. If you’re a new or seasoned self-storage owner, preparing now can save you headaches in the future. While you may not be able to escape the path of the storm, having a plan can bring a sense of peace to your operation. Two important steps in disaster preparation are the creation of an emergency response plan and communication with customers.
Emergency Response Plan
- Preparing your business begins with an emergency response plan. Thinking through details from the top to bottom of your business and your physical structure is important in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. There are four key components your business plan needs.
- Begin with a complete contact list in the order that each person needs to be reached. This contact list needs to be available to each person on the list and saved for quick access. Don’t assume everyone knows how to reach people on the list. Be sure to include all of your utility contact information in this section as well. In an emergency, preparedness is an asset.
- Take an in-depth look at your buildings, parking lots, security perimeters and other structures on the property. If it’s on the location of your business, it goes on the list. Consider any potential dangers that exist. Notice anything that could fall onto an existing structure. Pay attention to power lines and where a tree or other debris could bring them down. Now is the time to make repairs, clean up debris, securely store, or otherwise eliminate anything that could cause additional damage in a storm.
- Take photos of your property. Be sure to include interior, exterior, parking lots, the roof, and also have a site map available.
- Assign specific tasks to your emergency contact list. This will be a complete action list of which employees complete certain tasks without risking injury or harm to themselves or others.
- Keep your emergency response plan in a binder where it can be easily accessed by any of the key employees assisting in the event.
Communicate With Customers
Excellent communication with customers is always important. Reaching out to them shows you care about them, and provides good customer service. Here are 3 important things to communicate to customers:
- The business insurance does not extend to their belongings. It covers the property and physical structures. Their belongings are not included.
- If they do have insurance for their items, encourage them to take photos of all items and to contact their insurer ahead of time to find out how they will assist after a disaster.
- Ask them to follow your social media if they want updates on what’s happening at your location at all times, but especially in a crisis.
Prepare for Remote Work
In the event that your self-storage business suffers damage, flooding or loss of power, be prepared to work remotely and take phone calls in order to assist customers as the natural disaster unfolds.
Things to consider:
- Internet access
- Data access (files stored on a server that can be accessed remotely)
- Emergency phone or radio access
- Electricity or backup power
What kind of services can you offer remotely?
Self-storage businesses can answer phone calls and emails regarding property damage at the physical location. Many of these businesses offer 24/7 access anyway; but that may not be the case without power. Providing answers and information to your customers can ease some anxiety as people begin to scope out the damage.
Additionally, new customers may be in need of storage for belongings while they make repairs. Being available is a great way to help during a time of uncertainty.
Property management companies can be available to field inquiries regarding clean up, accessibility and similar issues. It may be too soon for repairs, but clean up of debris can begin.
Landscape companies with trucks, trailers and land-clearing equipment can begin to schedule with those in need of clearing services. If you can cut trees that have blown down, you can help those in your immediate neighborhood.
Trash or junk removal services can begin resuming operations once roads are cleared. The scheduling can begin remotely until the roads are passable.
Being prepared for a natural disaster is an important part of the self-storage business. While you can’t foresee the extent of damage that may occur with a particular storm, you can be prepared. At Coastal Storage, we work with our investors to prepare them for hurricane season so their businesses can thrive in spite of difficult seasons that may come. Call us today at 904-591-0140 to work with our team of experts.