Hurricanes pose a serious threat to jewelry businesses in coastal and hurricane-prone regions. While forecasts often provide days of advance notice, that time can disappear quickly if preparation isn’t already underway. Strong winds, flying debris, flooding, power outages, and extended closures can put both people and property at risk. Unlike tornadoes, earthquakes, and flash floods, hurricane forecasts allow individuals in affected areas more time to evacuate or take shelter.
The most important rule to remember: the safety of you and your staff always comes first. Property can be repaired or replaced; people cannot. With that in mind, proactive planning can help protect your building, your inventory, and your business continuity before, during, and after a storm.
Before the Storm: Prepare Early and Thoroughly
Waiting until a hurricane is forecast can leave you scrambling for supplies and services that may no longer be available at local hardware and department stores. Year-round maintenance and pre-season planning are essential.
Protecting your roof
- Inspect your roof and prioritize any repairs that need to be made. If your roof has been listed or approved by a national testing laboratory, ensure repairs can withstand at least the same level of force that the original could bear.
- Check roof protrusions such as vents, skylights, signs, equipment, and pipes for damage, tightness, and bracing.
- Remove any obstructions to gutters, drains, and nearby storm drains to prevent blockage.
Protecting your doors and windows
- Install window shutters or removable covers on windows. If these are not available, then opt to board up any sort of glass exposures.
- Double-check the strength of your showcase glass. All merchandise should already have been removed, but you can prevent any further damage to your business property by reinforcing interior fixtures that are at risk.
- Secure locks and make sure door frames are sturdy enough to handle high winds.
- Place sandbags at low points of your property and at door thresholds.
Protecting your other exterior elements
- Depending on your building structure classification, inspect anchoring systems between your foundation, walls, and roof. Correct any areas that may not provide necessary protection from high wind.
- Reduce windborne debris such as gravel on walkways or parking lots, landscaping features, and nearby trees or shrubs.
- Take down and secure other signs, banners, or flags that promote your business by bringing them indoors.
- If your business utilizes gas or propane for energy consumption or manufacturing purposes, make sure these components are closed off and highly secured.
Stay Ready Year-Round
Hurricane preparation is far easier when your building and systems are maintained consistently throughout the year. Discovering major roof issues or security gaps days before landfall may leave you without enough time—or resources—to fix them.
Regular inspections, updated plans, and practiced procedures help reduce stress, protect your people, and speed recovery after severe weather.
Avoid the variety of dangers that are present before, during, and after storms by downloading the Jewelers Mutual Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Contact the Jewelers Mutual Asset Protection Team at [email protected] with any questions about protecting your specific business.