Business Emergency Action Checklist

1/4/2017 (Permalink)

Is your business prepared in case a natural disaster strikes?

If a natural disaster, major accident, or other event created an emergency at your business would know what to do? Would you act quickly to do the most important tasks first? One way to become better prepared in case of an emergency at your business is to create your company’s own emergency action checklist.

Designed In Case Of Severe Water Or Fire Damage
SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has a top line action checklist built especially for events involving severe water or fire damage. The SERVPRO list is designed to keep your business employees safe and help reduce business interruption (the time your company is out of business because of the results of a disaster). You may want to review our list here and adapt it to your own situation.  

1. Advanced Warning: Be Alert And Stay Informed
When severe weather is approaching or other potential danger is near your business, stay tuned in to those sources that give you the latest information. Usually, that means listening to local weather reports or news reports. Think about precautions you may want to take before the emergency hits. That could include things like moving your business vehicles to higher ground, turning off utilities, disconnecting electrical equipment, and other steps.  

2. Always Think Safety First
Make your employees’ safety your first priority. That includes items like having a business evacuation plan, identifying designated meeting places outside your building, appointing team leaders who can keep track of employees, and more.

3. Stop Damage At Its Source
In some cases, you may be able to reduce or stop the water, fire, chemical, or other damage to your business. For example, if a chemical leak starts a fire, shut down the source of that chemical. Certainly, do not risk your safety or the safety of others.

4. Notify Your Emergency Contacts
Have a list of the places you need to call in an emergency and call them immediately. Depending on the situation, your emergency contacts might include the local fire department and the local police department.

5. Call SERVPRO
SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield responds to residential and business emergency situations every week, sometimes every day. We know what to do to keep you, your employees, and your business property safe and minimize damage. Our goal is to make your business fully operational again as quickly as possible.

6. Notify Key Contacts
Key contacts are different than emergency contacts. Emergency contacts are community or governmental resources that will help you deal with the damage or disaster. Key contacts are people like your property manager, insurance agent, maintenance crew, and others you need to inform and who can offer other types of help.

7. Secure Your Business Property
Once it’s safe to do so, secure your building and property. That might mean putting tarps over a damaged roof, covering broken windows, or doing other tasks that will protect your property from further damage.

8. Take Photos Of The Damage
You will improve your ability to collect full damages by taking pictures of everything the water, fire, or other elements damaged. It’s also good to have pictures of how your building and property looked prior to the damage for comparison sake.

9. Write A Summary Of The Event
Details build your case with your insurance company. Write down as many significant facts as you can: time of the damage, extend of the damage, actions you took, and more. Not only does this help advance your insurance claim, it can also help you decide what worked well and what you need to change the next time you have to respond to an emergency.

A Wealth Of Natural Disaster Information For You  
Every month on our blog, SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield publishes educational articles on how to prevent natural disasters and deal with them quickly and effectively should they occur. Here are a few you might find helpful:  

Commercial Restoration Presents Unique Challenges
Home Protection Guide: 29 Tips To Prevent Your Home Or Business From Financial, Structural, & Natural Disasters
Preventing Water, Plumbing, & Other Disasters
When Disaster Strikes Time Is Precious

Here When You Need Us
The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire damage restoration services, mold remediation, commercial services, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860-216-2785) anytime, 24/7.

We've served clients in Avon, Agawam, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, East Longmeadow, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Springfield, West Hartford, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860-216-2785 anytime