Public Information Line:
866-519-MEMA.

MS road info MDOT:
866-521-MDOT (6368).

Louisiana road info LDOT:
888-762-3511 or 511

Louisiana shelter info:
225-358-5361

Louisiana Emergency Hotline:
866-288-2484

Volunteer information:
1-866-472-8265.

Hurricane Preparedness:
1-866-458-4948

Hurricane Tips or Business Owners

“The business community should be aware of the potential of hurricane damage in the Commonwealth,” stated Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Don Boyce. “Each business owner should prepare or review their own Recovery Plan. MEMA provides some important safety tips for business owners. ‘Business as usual’ will not happen without good planning.”

• Review your property insurance with your insurance agent. Take photographs or make a video of your business establishment, both inside and outside.
• Determine and establish a written Hurricane Preparedness Plan for your business and its contents. Coordinate this plan with local and state officials.  Specify the conditions under which the plan will be implemented.
• Test your plan, reviewing it annually.  Establish an employee-training program on your Hurricane Plan.
• Make plans for protection of your computer files, including a back-up system to secure data and safe off-site storage of the data.
• Protect corporate records, keeping duplicates at an alternate location.
• Well in advance, acquire emergency protective equipment and supplies.  Heavy plastic sheeting, duct tape, sandbags, emergency generator, chain saw and large pieces of plywood will help protect your property.
• Bring in display racks and other objects, such as trashcans that might cause damage if airborne.  Remove outdoor signs, especially those that swing or are portable.
• Move merchandise, equipment or furniture away from windows or skylights. Elevate boxes or equipment, if possible.
• Turn off electricity and disconnect all electrical appliances and equipment (except for refrigeration equipment), in case there is a power outage.  An ensuing power surge could be damaging to equipment.
• Inform all employees on when and how you will notify them to report back to work.
• Develop an employee identification system, such as picture ID badges.  This may help employees gain access to the area after a hurricane.
• If possible, make arrangements to pay employees in cash.  It may be several days before banking institutions are operational.

Business Readiness Information Available Online

Many helpful Web sites can aid businesses in disaster planning and provide useful information about how to prepare and protect a business. At www.ready.gov, business owners can find recommendations on how to prepare emergency and recovery plans, how to conduct a risk analysis, and measures to implement to lessen damage from disasters. Anyone can download business preparedness brochures, check lists and templates for emergency planning.

The Web site for the Institute for Business & Home Safety (www.ibhs.org) includes a section on protecting against hurricanes, hail, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires and freezing weather.

The Disaster Contractors Network Web site (www.dcnonline.org) connects business owners and homeowners with contractors and vendors offering repair and rebuilding services. Business owners can search the site for contractors by category, keyword or geographic location. The Web site offers a multitude of services, including the ability to check if a contractor's license is valid and current.

The U.S. Small Business Administration's site (www.sba.gov/disaster/getready.html) contains disaster preparation tips and a checklist of planning tasks for business owners to consider. The section includes help with some hard questions owners need to ask themselves, such as, "What would we do if our facility were closed for several days, damaged or even totally destroyed?" and "What if my payroll, tax, accounting or production records were destroyed?"


Link: FEMA: Protect Your Business from a Natural Disaster
PDF File: FEMA: Protect Business Records and Inventory
PDF File: FEMA: Installing a Generator