FL Businesses Urged To Prepare For Hurricane Season, Now Underway

Florida - Hurricane Season begins this Thursday, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity wants business owners and managers to be prepared.

The DEO coordinates local, state, and federal agency actions that provide immediate and short-term assistance for businesses after a disaster. The Department says that preparation is key in order to protect businesses and get them up and running after a storm.

"Businesses across Florida need to be prepared and have a plan in place for operations before, during, and after severe weather and storms, especially during hurricane season," says DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor.

Below are a few steps the DEO urges business owners to take now, before a storm hits:

• Prepare now for flooding and wind damage. Move items off the floor, and fix broken items on the exterior of your business.
• Get a plan, and make sure your plan is updated. You can also go to www.FLGetaPlan.com to make a plan for your business and family.
• Prepare a disaster supply kit, and make sure all items in the kit are up-to-date.
• Charge your cell phones and make sure all of your contacts are current. Alert employees to pay attention to weather alerts on the news.
• Stay informed. You can visit the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center at http://flvbeoc.org to register to receive updates in the event of a severe storm or hurricane.

More resources on how to prepare your business for a disaster are available through the agency websites below:

• Florida Division of Emergency Management at www.FloridaDisaster.org,
• Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.Ready.gov/business,
• Small Business Administration at  www.sba.gov

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