Chicago receives 37.86 inches of rain each year on average. When a large storm hits, it can cause a lot of damage to commercial buildings, both inside and out. It can also cause a lot of disruption to business operations. Here in this blog, we’ll look at the top 5 tips for how to respond and recover from a storm. We’ll focus on the areas that get hit the most, so you can minimize the damage, keep your employees and customers safe, and get back to business as usual as soon as possible.
1. Address Interior Damage
The inside of your building is one of the first things to worry about during a storm. It’s no secret that flooding is a major concern. Water can seep in through doors, and it can even seep through ceilings. If left unchecked, water damage can cause extensive damage to your building’s infrastructure and assets. The best way to reduce the impact of water damage is to act quickly. Find out where the water is coming from and take immediate action to prevent it from happening again. Put up sandbags or some other barrier to prevent further water damage. Get in touch with a professional restoration service to assess and fix the damage so you can get your building back up and running.
2. Ensure Safety: Powerlines and Branches
No matter what kind of storm you’re dealing with, it’s critical to make sure you’re safe. If you’ve got fallen branches blocking your door or a power line that’s down, that’s a major hazard that needs to be taken care of right away.
Get in touch with the utility company to take care of power outages and power lines. Get professional arborists on the job to take care of fallen branches and make sure everything is safe. Don’t forget that getting your power back on is not just about safety, it’s also about getting your business back up and running as soon as possible.
3. Assess Exterior Damage
The exterior of your building is also at risk during a storm. A blocked drain, fallen tree, or fallen branches can block parking lots, sidewalks, and entrances, creating a safety hazard. It’s important to address these issues as soon as possible to ensure safe access and reduce the chance of accidents.
Hire professional contractors to remove blocked drains and fallen trees and limbs. Dispose of debris responsibly, and consider recycling options if appropriate. If you need to remove a tree, do it quickly and safely. You may want to consider replacing it to maintain the property’s curb appeal and environmental benefits.
4. Recover Business
While you’re worrying about safety, don’t forget about how the storm is affecting your business. Every minute that goes by, you’re losing money. Once you’ve taken care of the immediate safety concerns, focus on getting your business back up and running.
Check out the damage to your equipment, tech, and stock. Get in touch with suppliers, insurance companies, and restoration experts to help speed up the process. Talk to your employees, clients, and people who care about your business. Keep them updated on how things are going and any changes you’re making.
By staying on top of the recovery process, you’ll be able to minimize downtime and get your business back on track faster.
5. Be Proactive for Future Storms
Storms can be unpredictable, so it’s important to be prepared. Think about how vulnerable your building is to storms and take steps to protect it. Reinforce your doors and windows to stop water from getting in. Cut down trees and get rid of any branches that could be dangerous during high winds. Make sure your drainage system is working properly so you don’t have to worry about flooding. Review or create an emergency response plan to put in place and share it with everyone. By being prepared, businesses can reduce the amount of damage and be better prepared for future storms.
Finding Storm Response Assistance
Effectively responding and recovering begins with having the right partners to call when storms come through. At Diaz Group LLC, we offer quick and effective cleanup of commercial landscapes. We’ll have your property looking good as new in no time. Contact us to discuss your commercial property’s landscaping needs.
