There’s no doubt that businesses nationwide have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. According to ZenBusiness, 75% of small businesses were forced to lay off at least one employee due to the pandemic, exacerbating other setbacks from economic uncertainty, including declining sales, a shortage of products/services, etc.

To compound these issues, as businesses in our coastal state work to recover from a once-in-a-century public health crisis, they must also prepare for hurricane season, which is now upon us.

May 2021 tied for the sixth warmest May on record, globally. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2021 has cracked the Top 10 for warmest years on record. Warmer weather means a higher hurricane risk, with the Atlantic hurricane season running from June 1- Nov. 30. In fact, forecasters are predicting a 60% chance of above-average hurricane activity in 2021.

Sadly, recent data suggests that 75% of businesses without a continuity plan will fail within three years after a natural disaster. The longer your business is not operating, the more likely you are to lose customers permanently to your competitors. So, it is important to remain prepared for all sorts of difficult setbacks from these monstrous storms – from power outages to flooding, and property damage or lost work time.

No one wants to consider these misfortunes, but they remain possible. However, with the help of advanced planning, businesses will be in an advantageous position and set to “weather” a natural disaster. The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC), a part of the New Jersey Department of State, has nine recommended strategies to help small businesses endure:

1. Store important documents in the cloud, not the computer: Most businesses keep on-site records and files that are essential to normal operations. To reduce your vulnerability, determine which records, files and materials are most important, and back them up. These may include income tax forms, QuickBooks files, customer contact lists, strategy documents and passwords. From there, save these files on the cloud using an affordable service like Dropbox and DocHub, or Google Docs, which is free to use. This way, you can access your files from anywhere.

2. Keep office property secure: Raise computers above the flood level and move them away from large windows; move heavy and fragile objects to low shelves, and secure equipment that could move or fall during a heavy storm. In addition, hire a cybersecurity expert to make sure your systems are secure and virus-free. Protect your most important documents, credit card numbers, email correspondence and more by hiring an expert to set up a secure system well in advance.

3. Have a restoration plan in effect: Establish a clear plan if you or your business partners are incapacitated. List types of emergencies that have occurred in the community or could occur and adjust your plan accordingly. Ensure trusted employees have access to passwords, keys, alarm codes, phone forwarding and other important items in the event of a disaster. Consider financial obligations you will have during interruption, such as payroll and debt service, and ensure a system is in place to pay bills electronically. Establish a social media presence for your business (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter), and use social media tools to communicate with your customers about your business’ status.

4. Keep insurance up to date: Review your insurance coverage with an agent or your insurance center; specifically check the status of your business’ interruption insurance. If disaster occurs, you can file a business interruption insurance claim detailing any lost income. For insurance and tax purposes, be sure to maintain written and photographic inventories of all important materials and equipment, and store in a safety deposit box if possible.

5. Consider installing an emergency generator: Power outages are commonplace during disasters, and they may last for several days. As a result, even businesses that are not severely damaged can suffer losses because of the interruption of normal operations or the loss of perishable stock. You can reduce these losses and speed the recovery process by installing an emergency generator in advance.

6. Identify a backup location: If the primary location of your business is destroyed or severely damaged, you should identify a backup destination where employees can congregate and clients can visit. This will help create a sense of normalcy and ensure clients that all is well. Make sure your organization has the proper equipment, including a functioning Wi-Fi router if the workplace is inaccessible due to the storm. Telecommuting tools should be available if employees must leave their company location unexpectedly.

7. Keep disaster supplies on hand: Sometimes the simplest emergency plans are the most effective. Always have extra sets of batteries for when power goes out and critical electronics need to be kept running. Important files should have a written backup somewhere in a safe and secure location like a safe or metal filing cabinet. Have a disaster supply kit handy that includes a battery-powered radio to access National Weather Service information, a battery-powered electronic device charger, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, flashlights, extra batteries, waterproof plastic bags and more.

8. Get property inspected: It’s important to have your building inspected for damage to ensure safety for all employees upon return. Restore electric, gas, telephone and water, and avoid any additional damage by making repairs to stabilize your office or facility, if necessary. In the wake of the storm, for cleanup, ensure that you are using safe, proper cleaning products/services, that all appropriate safety equipment is used, and rent equipment or hire contractors if the job is too large or complicated for a small team.

9. Ensure print/digital resources are accessible: Find up-to-date, reliable information from community public health officials, emergency management and/or other sources, and make them accessible for staff/public viewing. Make sure your organization has access to inventory lists including computer hardware and software.

Natural disasters cannot be averted, but as a business owner, you can take the steps to minimize disruption and reduce loss so that, once the storm clears, you are able to return to normal operations as soon as possible. An effective disaster preparedness plan will ensure that both you and your employees are safe in any unforeseen circumstance. This has proven true through previous storms like Hurricane Sandy and, more recently, Isaias.

Remember, the NJBAC provides several useful resources for small businesses to get assistance throughout the state. To learn more, visit https://www.nj.gov/state/bac/bac.shtml or call 1800-JERSEY-7.