As fall slowly but steadily takes shape, it is a good time to consider or review the steps you should take to be sure your business is ready for a hurricane. Just as making your home as safe as possible ahead of any potential severe weather is a sensible precaution, taking the time to be sure your business is ready for strong winds and rain makes sense, too.

NPU is encouraging businesses, regardless of size, to be prepared for the possibility of unusual weather by taking the following steps:

Before a storm hits:

  • Follow the course of the storm very closely and pay close attention to localnewscasts.
  • Review your emergency communications plan – for both internal and external audiences.
  • Inspect and make safe any old or damaged drain, gutters or flashing.
  • Turn off any non-critical devices such as computer monitors, workstations or electrical equipment.
  • Back up all data on servers or PCs – if the backup site could be impacted by the storm, take the backup tapes with you when leaving.
  • Confirm that all roof-mounted equipment such as HVAC equipment or exhaust vents are secure.
  • Protect / relocate any vital records especially insurance policies.
  • Consider installing windstorm shutters or plywood over doors and windows.
  • Ensure all employees who will remain on site during a storm have all the supplies / equipment they’ll need:
    • Drinkable water
    • Battery-powered radio
    • Nonperishable food
    • Flashlights
    • Walkie-talkie

After a storm hits:

  • Always assume a downed wire is energized and very dangerous.
    • Call 9-1-1 immediately
    • Notify NPU (860.887.2555)
  • Continue to monitor the weather and news closely.
  • Watch for closed roads.
  • Consider 24-hour security for your facility.
  • Survey for safety hazards such as downed wires, leaking gas, flammable liquids, poisonous gases, and damage to foundations or underground piping.
  • Make repairs to your building or facility as needed.

In the event of a hurricane, NPU encourages patience and perspective. It is likely that there will be wide-spread outages in such a situation and we will be working diligently to restore power for all our customers. During a storm, we are in frequent contact with the Norwich Bulletin, The Day and WICH; we also provide regular updates via Facebook and Twitter on our restoration efforts.