The Weather Channel declared that the week starting August 5 was "Hurricane Week." Similar to how the Discovery Channel has its popular "Shark Week," the natural disaster theme is designed to inform viewers on the dangers of the powerful storm.
While even the Weather Channel is acting somewhat tongue-in-cheek with the theme—one advertising spot features a Great White shark being thrown from the water—this is still an important matter that company leaders across the nation should pay attention to.
This blog often reports on how small- to medium-sized business owners must prepare themselves for the possibility of natural disasters striking, causing their company to be temporarily—or permanently—put out of business. Not having the proper commercial property insurance in place could force entrepreneurs to pay for repairs out-of-pocket, or even ask family members for loans if financial institutions cannot provide proper funding.
WMBF News, a local South Carolina NBC affiliate, spoke with residents about how the state is preparing during Hurricane Week. According to Randy Webster, director of Horry County Emergency Management, recent years have only had weak storms make landfall, and many are skeptical of what could actually happen. Even so, Webster advised all South Carolinians to be cautious, and know what their emergency plan is.
"Be prepared to be on your own, and be prepared to be without your utilities for a long time," Webster advised. "It could be days, even weeks, and some cases months."
No business owner can predict how long a severe storm could prevent them from operating normally. Working with commercial insurance specialists will ensure that the best coverage is found so organizations can bounce back as quickly as possible.