Is Your Business Prepared for the 2023 Hurricane Season?

Does your business have a security plan in the event of a natural disaster like a Hurricane?

NOAA predicts a near-normal 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, but the best time to make an emergency plan is before you need it. There are a few preventative measures you should be thinking about when preparing for hurricane season.

Alarm System Backup Security Plan

Most alarm systems have a backup battery in the event of a power outage. However, a battery backup won’t last if you’re out of power for several days. Have a plan in the event that the battery dies and/or you receive alerts from your central alarm monitoring station.

In the event an alarm does go off, here are some things to consider:

• You should be familiar with the alarms that may trigger during a storm.
• Sending staff out to respond is a huge safety issue and should never be considered.
• It will take first responders some time to respond to an alarm.

Video Surveillance Maintenance Check

Your video surveillance is your best-case scenario for having eyes on your facility. Make sure it’s on and in working order. If the alarm system trips, you can at least look in on the camera to see what’s happening. Have a plan to ensure it does not run out of power or is located in a place where it will be destroyed.

Automated Systems Need Power

Automation is awesome – when everything is on schedule, of course. If you have automatic triggers for things like lights, locks, security systems, etc. be sure they are overridden during the storm.

If your door locks are magnetic, have an employee manually lock up the building. Magnetic locks require a power supply, so if the power goes out, your building could be open and unsecured. You should also make sure your key employees have an actual key in the event of an emergency.

If you’re planning to power down building circuits, be aware that access control systems work independently of servers, however, do require power to operate. Don’t try to do this on your own. Find a professional to help.

Other Best Security Practices

• Back up your business data, as well as the database for your security systems.
• Distribute an employee contact list.
• Have backup batteries and keep your phone in “low power mode” to ensure your phone stays charged.
• Have plenty of water.
• Fill up on gas and propane.

Hurricanes don’t always hit Virginia directly, but bad weather and power outages are common. It’s always best to be prepared when hurricane season rolls around!

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