Winter storms may be approaching - is your business ready?

While the festivities may be over, the winter has only just begun. With winter comes adverse weather conditions and the possibility of wind and rain storms. It's not ideal for any business to shut down due to a storm, but your company can take the necessary steps to stay protected. Find out how below. Walk around the building. Repair any damage to downspouts and drains now before the freezing temperatures and storms hit. Make sure that your business can quickly and efficiently direct rainwater away from the building and foundation. Turn up the temperature. Even if the business space will be unoccupied for a couple of days in the New Year, ensure that you maintain a temperature in the building of at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit. You don't want pipes to freeze, which could leave you with a burst pipe and flooding to clear up. Back up data. Now is the time to ensure that all your data is stored safely. Back up daily documents to the cloud so that your team can access important files remotely if they need to work elsewhere. File paper documents in a safety deposit box that is waterproof and fireproof - and preferably offsite. Develop a response plan. When and if an emergency does hit, your team needs to know what to do. Create an emergency response plan, giving certain members of staff responsibilities of different operations. Also, note down how you would plan to continue working if your building is damaged in some way, and how you would communicate updates to clients, vendors, and employees. Secure business interruption insurance. While certain business insurance coverage will help to protect your building after a disaster, business interruption insurance can help to avoid expenses associated with loss of revenue and relocating to a temporary office. Ask your insurer if any other coverage is advised so that your business can continue to run smoothly. When a blizzard hits, you'll be glad that you put in the prep work. For the protection your business needs, contact Bell Black Insurance. We serve all insurance needs for those in Idaho Falls, Island Park, Driggs, Victor, Swan Valley, Ashton, and the neighboring communities in Idaho, as well as Jackson and Star Valley in Wyoming.