Tornadoes and Your Business

When tornadoes strike, businesses can suffer. A large percentage of tornadoes occur between 3 and 6 p.m., when most people are at work. Be prepared to protect your employees, customers and property, and ensure business continuity.

Before a Tornado

• Monitor for severe thunderstorms in your area.
  • NOAA’s National Weather Service http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/wwa/
• Know the warning system for your community.
  • Learn the thunderstorm warning system for your county or locality.
• Know the terminology.
  • A tornado WATCH is issued when weather conditions favor the formation of tornadoes, for example, during a severe thunderstorm -- be prepared to take shelter immediately if conditions worsen.
  • A tornado WARNING is issued when a tornado funnel is sighted or indicated by weather radar -- You should take shelter immediately!
• Establish shelter locations on your property.
  • The safest place is the interior part of a basement.
  • If there is no basement, use an inside room on the lowest floor (e.g., center hallway, closet).
  • Avoid windows, skylights, or glass doors, which could be broken by strong winds or hail.
  • There should be enough room for all employees, any customers or suppliers who may be at your business during the hazardous situation.
  • Stock the shelter with emergency supplies such as flashlights, battery powered radio, and a first aid kit.
• Prepare and protect your employees
  • Make sure everyone knows the location of storm shelter areas in the building; conduct annual emergency drills.
• Make plans regarding customers.
  • Determine the likelihood of customers being present if a severe storm situation.
  • Have an emergency plan for customers; review it with employees regularly.
  • Label shelter locations for the building.
• Identify potential hazards on your property.
  • Secure unstable materials that are outside your business (e.g., lumber, equipment, fuel tanks).
  • Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage.
• Protect your assets.
  • Maintain an inventory of all equipment used by your business.
  • Develop a schedule for backing up all computer records.
  • Keep backups of all tax, accounting, payroll and production records, customer and supplier data off-site.
  • Keep copies of all paper and computer files in an accessible but off-site location.
• Prepare for business continuity.
  • Have a business emergency plan.
  • Document all processes that keep your business running.
  • Determine what processes and equipment is needed to keep your business open.
  • Store extra supplies offsite and make a plan for temporary relocation.
• Obtain tornado insurance.
  • Business insurance policies can cover damage to your business property and equipment.
  • Add extra coverage in case of business interruption following the disaster.
  • Extra expense coverage may pay for the costs of relocating or leasing equipment while repairs are underway.

During a Tornado

• Stay informed.
  • Listen to the radio or television about the situation.
• If a WARNING is issued – Seek shelter immediately.
• Ensure employee and customer safety.
  • Have personnel and customers go to the businesses’ emergency shelter location immediately!
    • Interior hallway areas
    • Avoid glass walls and windows
    • Avoid areas with wide-span roofs (e.g., warehouses)
  • Designate an employee to be the contact for employees and customers and to ensure they go to shelter locations.
  • Instruct individuals to sit facing the wall with their heads between their knees.
  • Keep exterior doors and windows closed and interior doors (offices to corridors) open to minimize pressures.
  • Do not use elevators for shelter; if the building loses power, you may become trapped.
  • If there is time, turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve.

After a Tornado

• Assess employees and customers for injuries.
  • If someone has been injured, call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services.
• • Assess your property.
  • Survey the inside and outside of the building for structural damage, sharp objects, downed power lines, damaged gas lines, or other hazards (e.g. chemicals).
  • If re-entering a building, use extreme caution, as moving through debris presents further hazards.
  • Check machinery and equipment for damage.
  • Take photographs of all damage for insurance or emergency assistance purposes.
  • Contact your insurance agent to report any losses and obtain advice about restoration needs.
• Clean up safely.
  • During cleanup, personnel should wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves, and gloves to protect their body from injury.
  • Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately.
  • Be aware of hazards that may cause injury while cleaning up (e.g., chain saws, electrical or chemical hazards).
  • Use caution with gas powered equipment – dangerous carbon monoxide can be generated.