As the weather continues to warm up in St. Louis, the propensity for severe storms, including hail and tornadoes, increases. Business owners and building managers should take the time now to prepare for these possibly devastating springtime storms.
Take precautions now before tornado season arrives. Read the following tips to see how you can protect your employees, assets, and important documents at all times:
Create a Tornado Safety Plan – Your employees should feel safe and prepared before a severe storm or tornado arrives. Creating a strong emergency plan can help you and your employees take the appropriate steps should the worst occur. Your plan should include the proper procedures to follow and the safest locations to take shelter. Drill your staff on these procedures frequently so that they will know what to do if a tornado appears.
Keep a Watchful Eye on the Weather – Whenever the weather takes a turn for the worse, be sure to keep an eye on the sky. Stay updated with local news channels and determine if your area is under a tornado watch or a tornado warning. A tornado watch means that the conditions could produce a tornado; a tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted and that severe weather is imminent. Learning the warning signs can also help you keep yourself and others safe. There are several storm spotter classes in the Greater St. Louis region that you or your employees can attend.
Protect Your Data – Whether you keep your records in a filing cabinet, on your computer, or a little bit of both, a tornado can absolutely obliterate your important documents in a matter of seconds if it hits your building. Ensure that your sensitive data is safe by using a form of cloud storage. By doing this, you can access your information no matter where you are. You can also store your important documents and servers in a tornado-safe room on-location.
Have a Solid Tornado Contingency Plan – After a tornado, your building’s infrastructure may be unsafe. If this is the case, it is essential that you take action as quickly as possible. Make preparations to contact your insurance and vendors, and have alternative workplaces or telecommuting options and instructions for your employees.