Hurricane Fiona Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit

Here are recommendations to help you endure the storm, including tips to build an emergency survival kit, and how to prepare your business property for the approaching storm:

How to Build an Emergency Survival Kit

The following are some of the key considerations for an emergency survival kit to help business owners be prepared with provisions if you must shelter-in-place:

• One gallon of water, per person, per day for up to three days.
• Food: Non-perishable and canned foods for up to three days that are easy to prepare, along with a non-electric can opener.
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
• Flashlights with extra batteries.
• Matches.
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, with extra batteries if relevant.
• Extra clothing and blankets including rain gear.
• A first-aid kit.
• Emergency cash and cheques as credit and debit cards may not be dependable in a power outage.
• A portable cellphone charger, a working cellphone, and chargers for other electronics, including vehicle chargers.
• A whistle to signal for help.
• Duct tape.
• Copies of personal documents, including a business contents inventory list, your insurance policy, and other important legal and financial documents.
• Pen and notebook to keep notes such as important phone numbers, in case the power is out and electronic devices are not working.

5 Emergency Preparedness Tips for Small Business Owners

Here are five emergency preparedness tips for small business owners to use:

1. Secure your commercial property

Install storm shutters or shields on the building to protect windows and prevent debris from getting inside and damaging your inventory and equipment. Use tarps to secure items stored outside to minimize water damage. Secure larger outdoor materials that could become projectiles in high winds. Ensure downspouts and storm drains are clear, that your building’s sump pump is working, and if you have an emergency power generator, check that it is in working order.

2. Establish a remote location

Be ready to run your business from a remote location until you can return if you must vacate your business property. Identify different places aside from your primary business address where you can still conduct necessary administrative functions should you need to make a move elsewhere.

3. Protect your data

Backing up your data regularly is wise. Encrypt and backup your data to cloud storage systems and include a detailed inventory list, your customer contacts, and other mission-critical documents.

4. Protect your employees

When dangerous weather descends, it’s vital to protect your employees from being hurt. Have evacuation procedures at the ready that everyone on your team is aware of and designate a meeting area offsite for employees to assemble to make it easy to identify anyone who may be missing.

5. Have emergency contact information available

Keeping the lines of communication open during the hurricane is vital. Distribute an up to date contact list to each employee, and include alternate numbers for each person if possible. Don’t forget to add contact information of local emergency responders, as well as vendors, suppliers, and local utility providers.

 

Emergency Preparedness Resources for Small Businesses in Atlantic Canada

Each province has an emergency management organization that can provide you with information and resources for preparing for emergencies as well as disaster financial assistance programs:

• New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization
• Newfoundland & Labrador Justice and Public Safety
• Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office
• P.E.I. Emergencies and Public Safety

We’re Here to Help If You Need to File a Claim

If you are a Zensurance client and your small business is impacted by Hurricane Fiona and you need to file a claim for damage or loss, our claims assistance team is available 24/7 to help. Here’s what you need to do:

Mitigation

If your situation is urgent (for example, an injury, water clean up, drainage issue, clean up methods, etc.) please take all the necessary steps to stop the loss from escalating further. Please keep any receipts or invoices collected from any emergency services and submit them to the adjuster for review.

Contact Us Immediately

To submit a claim between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Atlantic Time, please call us toll-free at 1-888-654-6030. To submit a claim after business hours, please call us toll-free at 1-833-780-8046.

Have the following information handy when calling:

• Your business’s name or the full name of the business owner
• A description of the damage or loss
• Your insurance policy details
• A police record (if applicable)
• Photos or videos of the damage if possible

Please note: No coverage is confirmed until your claim is reviewed and approved by an adjuster.