July 18, 2005—Approximately $22.9 billion in damages were experienced by business and residential property owners in 16 states and Puerto Rico from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne during 2004, but the majority of commercial losses could have been avoided had business owners properly protected their facilities, according to Affiliated FM, a commercial property insurer and loss prevention expert serving medium-sized companies.
While Category 4 and Category 5 hurricanes trigger the greatest alarm, lesser hurricanes can still lead to serious damage for small- and medium-sized businesses, the company says.
Fortunately, property damage can be prevented or minimized by following an organized plan of action before, during and after a hurricane. In addition to boarding up windows, anchoring outdoors assets and checking back-up generators, business owners should consider such measures as forming an Emergency Response Team (ERT) and arranging backup communications, such as two-way radios, between onsite and offsite members.
For additional windstorm preparation tips, visit the resources section of Affiliated FM.
