Preparing for Winter Weather: Tips for Small Businesses

Topics: Small Business

Summary: As winter settles across various regions, the question arises: Is your business ready for winter storms? This blog provides expert safety tips to safeguard your property and prevent weather-related damage during the cold months ahead.

Winter Weather Preparedness for Small Businesses

Winter is a season marked by unpredictable weather, including extreme cold, high winds, snow, and icy conditions. As a small business owner, it is vital to ensure that your organization is resilient and prepared to weather winter storms. Adequate preparation can protect your business, your property, and your employees from the hazards associated with winter weather.

How to Prepare Your Small Business for Winter

winter weather preparation for small businesses

1. Stay Proactive with Weather Monitoring

Regularly check local weather forecasts and consider downloading a reliable weather app to receive timely alerts about winter storms. Anticipating severe weather will allow you more time to prepare your business operations and inform your staff.


2. Implement a Winter Safety Plan

Creating a comprehensive winter safety plan is critical. This plan should outline steps to protect your assets and personnel, ensuring you remain competitive even during disruptions. Crucial components of a business continuity plan include transitioning to remote work and maintaining effective communication channels.

Confirm all essential electronic devices, such as laptops, are fully charged. Regularly back up your electronic files, storing them off-site when feasible. Communicating with suppliers is necessary to establish a strategy for continuing operations during storms.

Protecting Your Small Business Property

1. Prepare the Exterior
Start by relocating any equipment or materials susceptible to damage in freezing temperatures to protected areas. Ensure essential vehicles are parked safely and ideally sheltered from snow accumulation.

2. Inspect Your Roof
Prevent significant damage from heavy snow loads by regularly checking your roof for vulnerable areas. Inspect it for structural integrity, loose materials, and any signs of damage. Excessive snow buildup can lead to leaks or even roof collapse. It's essential to know your roof's snow load capacity and act quickly to address any issues by hiring a qualified contractor for snow removal.

3. Prevent Frozen Pipes 
Frozen pipes can lead to substantial property damage. Insulate unheated areas like attics and crawl spaces and apply heat tape to vulnerable pipes. Maintain indoor temperatures above 55°F and drain outdoor hoses. Consider installing intelligent leak detectors to monitor your plumbing.

4. Snow and Ice Removal
Clear snow and ice promptly from parking lots, sidewalks, and entryways. Use salt or sand to mitigate the risk of slips and falls. Adding non-slip mats at entrances can further enhance employee and customer safety.

5. Install a Generator
Investing in a generator can keep your business running during power outages, maintain essential operations, and protect your property from the effects of freezing temperatures.

6. Assemble a Reliable Team
Navigating winter challenges is best handled with a trusted network of professionals. Compile a list of contacts, including a building inspector, plumber, electrician, snow removal service, and structural engineer. Having these experts on hand will help you quickly address any winter-related emergencies that may arise.

Being proactive and prepared for winter weather can make all the difference in ensuring your small business remains safe and operational. Take the time to assess your vulnerabilities and establish a solid winter preparedness plan—your future self will thank you.

Additionally, our infographic below has a few tips to get your small business prepared for a winter storm:
 

Protect Your Workforce

Last, but not least - the most significant winter weather preparedness tip is to protect your most important asset: your workforce. If possible, close your office at a time that allows your employees ample opportunity to travel home safely. Should a storm hit during non-business hours, making winter driving difficult and dangerous, offer the capability for your employees to work from home (if your type of business supports this) by allowing secure access to your business network.

AmTrust Offers Commercial Property Protection

AmTrust protects your business and its property with our commercial property insurance. We can design customized coverage to fit your individual needs and keep your building, its contents and your income safe. Additionally, AmTrust’s Loss Control team offers a variety of small business winter preparedness resourcesContact us today to learn more.

This material is for informational purposes only, summarizes coverages and services that may be available in a policy, and is not legal or business advice. Neither AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates represents or warrants that the information contained herein is appropriate or suitable for any specific business or legal purpose. Readers seeking resolution of specific questions should consult their business and/or legal advisors.
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