Winter Weather Preparedness Checklist

Overview

Planning and preparing make a difference in keeping your business resilient in the wake of severe winter weather.

Winter storms can often bring extreme cold temperatures and knock out heat, power, and communication services. Simply staying warm during periods of extreme cold can be a challenge if you are unprepared and there is no infrastructure to assist your area. In addition to service disruptions, winter weather can thwart service restoration because roads may be blocked by deep snow, and icy conditions may add to the difficulties of travel.

Consider All Risks

The first step when preparing for winter weather disruptions is to define all of the possible risks of not being ready for a storm and how they will impact your organization as a whole. With proper preparation, the avoidance of these risks If severe winter weather hits the area where your business is located, the following could potentially occur:

1. Power loss
2. Fires
3. Floods
4. Communications disruptions
5. Supply chain disruption
6. Property damage
7. Employee injury or illness
8. Transportation disruption
9. Automobile/other transportation accidents
10. Compromised access to facilities
11. Personal exhaustion, hypothermia, heart attack

Before, During, and After the Storm

The worst possible scenario for a business is to attempt to cobble together a plan when a storm is on its way or already in your area. Covering some essential elements ahead of time will enable you to move straight to your plan of action when the storm hits.

Download our Winter Preparedness Checklist to optimize your organization for any winter threats.