MORGANVILLE, N.J. - TelAve -- This week marks the beginning of what experts believe could be a very active hurricane season. The good news is there's still time to prepare your organization.

Did you know that nearly 50% of companies go out of business after major disasters like hurricanes? But this is preventable by having a good backup plan.

"Taking a few simple precautions can make a huge difference when it comes to surviving a natural disaster. It can literally make or break your business" says Invenio IT Data Protection Specialist, Dale Shulmistra.

In preparation for the 2023 hurricane season, here are three tips small businesses cannot afford to skip:

1. Prepare your physical space.

• Have the building inspected regularly to make sure it can withstand a big storm.
• Clean up the surrounding area, ensuring there isn't anything that could easily blow or fall into your building.
• Check the utilities (water heaters, gas tanks, and heaters) and raise them to higher locations. And, don't forget to shut them off prior to the storm's arrival.

2. Protect your intellectual property.

• Have a business continuity plan in place to ensure there is no disruption to your servers and critical business data is protected.
• Have any irreplaceable "paper" documents sealed in a waterproof container. Seal these documents in waterproof containers onsite.
• Make sure you have access to your servers and data while off-site.

3. Make sure to stock up.

• Have your office pantry fully stocked with the things you may need should the storm hit while you are at work: battery operated radio, non-perishable food supply, generous supply of water, containers for water and washing, blankets and pillows, first aid kit, flashlights (and batteries), basic tool kit, camera to document damages, flares, tarps and duct tape, cleaning supplies, fire extinguisher, generator, as well as cash.
• In addition, make sure you prepare an emergency contact sheet with information such as: the nearest hospital, police, FEMA, utilities and the insurance company and agent contact information should you need it.

Find more helpful tips to prepare your business for the hurricane season here.

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