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ARE YOU PREPARED FOR HURRICANE SEASON?

 

As the memory of Wilma and Katrina fade for South Florida, it’s easy to be complacent about this hurricane season. If you don’t have a plan, or if it’s not up to date, now is the time to finalize your plans.

 

Here are a few items to consider:

Ø     Do several high-ranking individuals have keys for your stores? Quick access is essential.

Ø     Is there a handy list of all employees with their phone numbers?

Ø     Do you have a voice mail that employees can dial into to find about work status?

Ø     Do you have a policy regarding store closing during hurricane warnings?

Ø     Do you have a policy regarding moving perishables from cases to walk in freezers?

Ø     Do you have a policy regarding moving products out of sight while the store is closed?

Ø     Do you own shutters? Have you inspected them for missing parts, and working condition?  Do you have a policy for when shutters are used?

Ø     Do you plan on re-opening with a generator, and have you made provisions for the generator, bottled water and pour over coffee makers?

Ø     Have you reviewed your insurance coverage, for adequate inventory coverage, power and business interruption, and other invaluable clauses?

Ø     Do you have phone numbers of important vendors, such as the water company and electric company, stored off-site?

Ø     Do you have a stockpile of essentials, such as coffee, cups and sweetener?

 

These are just some of the items that should be included in your hurricane manual. You should meet with your store managers and general managers in order to prepare a complete manual.

 

After the 2005 season, I spoke with many owners about their experiences relating to Katrina and Wilma. Everyone that stayed open experienced extraordinary sales, especially coffee. Virtually everyone had problems getting finished products for the various central kitchens, and even more difficulty getting supplies from the DCP.

 

Some owners developed the attitude that they would rather be adequately insured, and not re-open until safe and operable conditions return.

 

Now is the time for action. It is almost a certainty that at some point in your experience as a franchisee, you will either wish you had been better prepared, or thankful that you planned early.

 

 

                                                          - Jack Miller