Hurricane Irma swept through South Florida almost a month ago, and many of us are still feeling its effect. We were fortunate to have been spared the devastation that happened in the Caribbean, and what our neighbors in Puerto Rico are now experiencing after Hurricane Maria.

Nonetheless, Irma has left its mark and taught us a few lessons along the way:

Next, to Water, Electricity and Wi-Fi are King

Certainly, for many local business owners, one of the biggest takeaways was how quickly a disaster could disrupt our day-to-day business operations. Just a week without electricity or Wi-Fi can wreak havoc on almost any modern business.

You Need a Business Continuity Plan

A business continuity plan is similar to a business plan, except it outlines the exact steps you would need to take to manage your business after a disaster. Where would you work if you lost power both your office and at home? What are the critical functions of your business that need to be handled right away? Will you need personnel located in another area away from the disaster to help you manage your business? How will you reach your clients? Do you have the infrastructure in place already?

An Emergency Fund Can Offer Security

Calculate your business expenses for one or two months and start an emergency fund. Include salaries for yourself and any employees. This will ensure that you have a nest egg ready for any unexpected business interruptions during a disaster.

Generators Can Keep You Going

If you have a brick and mortar business, or even a home-based business, investing in a generator may be a smart move. Keep in mind, that a generator is only a temporary solution. Depending on its size, it may only get you so far, but it can buy you some time until electricity and utility services are restored in your area.

You Need to Backup Everything

Backup all your company, client, and vendor data in a secure cloud-based system. The ability to access your information from a new location is critical to continue operating your business after a disaster.

We can’t control nature, but we can control how we prepare for what it sends our way. It’s important to think beyond the first 24-48 hours and imagine what week two or three would be like.

 

Crown Center Suites understands how devastating a disaster can be. Fortunately, we were up and running ahead of most. To help the community, we provided a special rate for the premium shared space and temporary office spaces to help all displaced local businesses.

Emergencies come in many forms and we hope that you know we are here for you when they happen. Whether it is because you are temporarily displaced or have a growth opportunity that requires immediate real estate resources than you currently have, we have a full inventory of workspace solutions for you.