Preparing Your System
While you always have the option to DIY your commercial security system, investing in professionally installed equipment makes a lot of sense for most businesses. If you hire a qualified security company, you’ll receive high-quality products specifically designed to withstand storms. All professional systems should be backed with emergency batteries to withstand power outages and send automated emergency notifications when the batteries are low. Additionally, a cloud-based system will allow you the opportunity to remotely monitor what’s happening from afar. With these protections in place, there’s enough stress during a storm — don’t let your building’s security worry you unnecessarily.
Before a hurricane, you should test your system’s batteries to ensure that everything is working properly. Consider investing in a system that transmits information over cellular LTE or 3G, so you’ll still receive notifications even if Internet service goes down. If any of your building cameras are on the exterior of a building, it’s essential to check if they’re rated for severe weather. Otherwise, they may be susceptible to heavy rain and wind, which can lead to them breaking when you need them most. Glass-break sensors are also worth considering for installation because they help prevent false alarms during a hurricane and can alert you to real threats.
General Storm Preparedness
BEFORE
- Know where to evacuate. Sometimes, evacuation notices are sent out last-minute. It’s essential to have a plan ahead of time so you’re not scrambling during an emergency.
- Prepare for no power. After a serious storm, electricity and water can be hard to come by. If you’re going to shelter at home, you should have enough supplies to last several weeks.
- Collect supplies. Grocery shelves are often empty in the days before a storm hits. Buy non-perishable food year-round to make sure you’ll have enough. Buy bottled and filtered water and stock up on medication.
- Prepare your property. Trees are one of the biggest threats during a storm because they can become projectiles. Be mindful of the trees near your building and bring in anything that could fly away.
DURING
- Stay in the know. Consider buying an emergency radio so you can receive alerts even if the power goes out. Have a list of nearby shelters so you can evacuate quickly if needed. If conditions change quickly, this helps you move from monitoring to action.
- Take shelter. Once a storm hits, you should stay as far away from windows as you can. Ideally, you’ll ride out the storm in a room on the highest level of the building.
AFTER
- Stay put. It’s normal to feel antsy after a hurricane, and you’ll likely wonder how your neighborhood fared. Still, it’s vital to stay at home until authorities give an all-clear, or you could put yourself in danger.
- Be mindful of CO poisoning. One of the biggest post-hurricane threats is carbon monoxide poisoning. Be extremely careful with generators, especially indoors.
- Contact insurance. If there’s any building damage, it’s important to call your insurer right away. Once you file a claim, you’ll be one step closer to seeing your property restored.