Aug 29, 2019
Tornadoes: why you need an emergency preparedness plan

{Sponsored} Throughout the spring and summer months, most regions of the United States can expect severe thunderstorms, bringing with them hail, wind, lightning and a chance of tornadoes.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average of 1,253 tornadoes occur each year in the United States. Being prepared before the sirens sound can be key in the quick recovery of your business following a tornado.

First and foremost, having an emergency preparedness plan of action when it comes to severe weather is imperative for keeping your employees safe. Sit down with your staff and map out an evacuation plan in the event that severe weather strikes.

To protect your assets, Federal Nursery Crop Insurance is a no-brainer when dealing with the post-storm damage to crops. But there are plenty of ways taking steps beforehand can help speed up the recovery and rebuilding process on the other side of a thunderstorm as well.

Keep your insurance plans up-to-date. This includes following up with your insurance agent from time to time to be sure your insurance adequately covers your needs properly.
Inspect and prepare your equipment in the late winter or early spring, leaving plenty of time before storm season.
Inspect all of your structures and structural connections prior to the start of the season.
Back-up all necessary information electronically, keeping back-ups and copies of important documents at a secondary location.
When a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning paired with a tornado watch is issued, park all heavy machinery and vehicles up against sturdy fixtures.
Make sure all greenhouse doors that only secure with latches are blocked with heavy objects to keep them from blowing open.

Should severe weather strike, and your crops and/or greenhouses are damaged by a tornado, there are several steps you can take to quickly get your business back on the path of a quick recovery:

Call your insurance agent as soon as the severe weather has safely passed.
Assess the damage across your property and take any photos that might help explain the damage, being sure to stay away from any downed power lines, flood waters or trees that are threatening to fall.
Gather any necessary records needed to begin processing the claim and transmit them to your insurance company.

Review your policy and make sure to have all your bases covered. Consider where your operation is located and recent trends in weather-related and non-weather-related disasters. View resources available on the Hortica® website to learn more about protecting your business and minimizing risk.

Want more information? Contact Hortica at 800-541-5082, or visit hortica.com.

Hortica® property and casualty coverages are underwritten, and loss control services are provided, by Florists’ Mutual Insurance Company, Florists’ Insurance Company, and Florists’ Insurance Service, Inc., Edwardsville, IL, members of the Sentry Insurance Group. For more information, visit hortica.com. Policies, coverages, benefits and discounts are not available in all states. See policy for complete coverage details.

This document is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. No one should act on the information contained in this document without advice from a local professional with relevant expertise.

77-138 4003336 7/30/19