Hurricane season officially lasts until November 30. A changing climate has already taught us that storm “seasons” can wreak havoc both before and after arbitrary dates on a calendar.
Based on available data and historical context, there is a strong possibility that this year’s Atlantic hurricane season could exceed 2005 in terms of storm activity. The record-setting 2005 season, you’ll recall, gave us Katrina and 26 additional named storms. In 2005, in fact, the last six storms had Greek Letter designations because the assigned names for the year were used up after Wilma.
Think you are outside the path of destruction? Think again. Hurricane Helene has taught us all too painfully, that tropical storms can affect much larger geographical areas than coastal areas alone.
One of the best resources I’ve found for emergency managers and communicators is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, which reports that 40 percent of businesses do not reopen following a disaster. PR pros should update crisis communications plans to assure that weather and natural disaster events are considered more likely to occur, even in unlikely regions and at unexpected times of year. For organizations that do not have a disaster communications or operations plan, there are numerous free resources available online to help professionals in communications, business continuity, emergency planning and operations.
As natural disasters and major weather events involve first responder agencies, every PR pro should become familiar with the National Incident Management System, or NIMS. The NIMS structure is widely used by fire and EMS, law enforcement, the military and other groups to manage disasters and other emergencies. It is an easy-to-follow command structure to guide organizations in the personnel, communications and operations plans needed to effectively manage a disaster. Communicators who understand NIMS will be able to better work with municipal officials in a disaster to assure that communications are timely, targeted and effective.
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute offers several free NIMS courses online. This critical planning need not be burdensome with the ample resources available with a simple click.
It is never too late to prepare for destructive weather, both personally and at the office. You’d better hurry, though, to do these important things:
Develop or update a comprehensive emergency plan.
Create a detailed business continuity and crisis communications plan that outlines procedures for before, during, and after a hurricane. Visit ready.gov for comprehensive guidance.
- Update your employee evacuation and sheltering protocols, emergency supply kit, backup procedures for critical data and systems and communication channels for employees, customers, and suppliers.
- If a storm is imminent, protect physical assets and property.
- Safeguard important documents and data with offsite backups.
- Prepare employees and establish communication protocols to help keep everyone safe before, during and after the storm.
By implementing these tips, your company can be better prepared to weather the effects of a hurricane and minimize potential disruptions to your business operations.
