Hurricane Survival Guide for Small Businesses - SFRPC

1 HHuurrrriiccaannee SSuurrvviivvaall GGuuiiddee ffoorr SSmmaallll BBuussiinneesssseessPPrreeppaarreedd bbyy tthheeSSoouutthh FFlloorriiddaa RReeggiioonnaall PPllaannnniinngg CCoouunncciill TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttssExecutive Summary # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #$ Hurricane Related Terms # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Hazard Mitigation' planning and Preparation # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #(Hazard Mitigation # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #( planning # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #))

2 Preparation # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #*Supplies # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #$ Evacuation # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #$)Recovery # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #$*Conclusion # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # +References # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ,Appendix $.

3 Where To Turn Listing # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # )Appendix . Sample Hurricane Response Plan # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #+)Initial Damage Assessment Form # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #(+ Hurricane Tracking Map # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #(4 EEXXEECCUUTTIIVVEE SSUUMMMMAARRYYH urricane Andrew struck South Florida on Monday August ,' $:: ' just before (.)

4 A#m# Withwinds exceeding $, miles per hour and gusts of more than $4( miles per hour' devastating damagewas inevitable# In the aftermath of the storm many residents found themselves not only homeless'but unemployed# About : percent of the Businesses located in South Dade were significantly or destroyed# Many of these Businesses were Small Businesses that typically do not carryenough insurance to cover property damage and business interruption# Due to this and many otherfactors' Small Businesses have a difficult time recovering from natural disasters such as hurricanes#Because of the and sometimes terminal effect hurricanes can have on Businesses ' Small Businesses ' the South Florida Regional planning Council has)

5 Developed this HurricaneSurvival Guide for Small Businesses # This Guide is intended to assist Small business owners in planningand preparing for Hurricane season' and in the recovery phase in the event their business is damagedduring a Hurricane # The Guide was funded by the U#S# Department of Commerce' EconomicDevelopment Administration#A Hurricane response plan will benefit your business through: Expediting recovery Employee safety Reduced insurance premiums Reduced economic loss Property protection Proactive decision making before a disasterInformation in the Guide is contained in five chapters# Chapter One contains Hurricane related ; Chapter Two consists of Hurricane planning and preparation tips; Chapter Three containsboth a business and employee disaster supply checklist; Chapter Four contains information regardingevacuation.

6 And Chapter Five contains recovery information# The Guide also contains three appendices# Appendix $ is a telephone listing of contacts that may beuseful in Hurricane preparation and recovery efforts; Appendix is a sample Hurricane response planthat can be used by business owners to develop a disaster plan for their Businesses ; and Appendix +contains a Hurricane tracking map to assist business owners in making a decision on when to activatetheir plan#HHUURRRRIICCAANNEE RREELLAATTEEDD TTEERRMMSSThe official designated Hurricane season is June $ through November + # Although all hurricanes posea risk of potential danger and destruction' some are more dangerous than others depending on stormsurge' wind' rainfall and other factors# To better predict the hazards of an approaching Hurricane ' Hurricane forecasters have divided

7 Hurricanes into five categories' with category $ causing the leastamount of damage and category ( causing the most#HHUURRRRIICCAANNEEA Hurricane is a low pressure weather system' exhibiting winds with a rotation' ofgreater than 4, miles per hour#CCAATTEEGGOORRIIEESSCCAATTEEGGOORRY Y $$WWiinnddss ooff 44,,..::(( mmpphh:: Strong enough to cause damage to shrubbery' trees' and mobilehomes#CCAATTEEGGOORRYY WWiinnddss ooff ::))..$$$$ mmpphh::Can blow down trees and cause damage to some roofing of buildings' windows and doors# Evacuation routes could be affected due to risingwater# Strong enough to cause major damage to piers# Marinas may flood and smallcrafts anchored in protected areas may be lost#CCAATTEEGGOORRYY ++WWiinnddss ooff $$$$$$.)

8 $$++ mmpphh:: Can rip foliage from trees and blow down large trees# Damageto roofing materials of buildings' windows and doors' and some structural damage tosmall buildings# Strong enough to destroy mobile homes# Coastal and inlandflooding# ++CCAATTEEGGOORRYY ,,WWiinnddss ooff $$++$$..$$(((( mmpphh::Shrubs' and trees and signs blown down# Extensive to roofing materials' windows and doors# Total destruction of roofs on smallresidences and mobile homes# Flooding and floating debris#CCAATTEEGGOORRYY ((WWiinnddss ggrreeaatteerr tthhaann $$(((( mmpphh.))))))))))

9 The most deadly and destructive category#Complete roof failures and destruction of residences and industrial buildings#Shattering of glass in windows and doors# Storm surges and widespread flooding#Regardless of the category' hurricanes can cause both coastal and inland hazards# High tides and flashfloods caused by storm surges are likely coastal hazards# Continuous rainfall and runoff from highground areas causing flooding in areas is an example of an inland hazard# In addition' inlandareas on high ground normally experience damage due to Hurricane winds# Building debris is carriedby the wind throughout the affected area#Listed below are other Hurricane related terms with which you should be familiar#AAddvviissoorryy.

10 A message released by the Hurricane center' normally at ).hour intervals' providingupdates on the storm or Hurricane ' including watches and warnings when they are in effect# A advisory is a message given whenever there is a significant change in weather conditions orchange in warnings previously released# Intermediate advisories are issued every to + hours' a watch or warning is in effect#SSttoorrmm ssuurrggee. A rise in tides caused by a Hurricane as it moves over or near the coastline#GGaallee wwaarrnniinngg.