As we move into the first month of Spring here in the southern states, we have new weather events to worry about when it comes to protecting your gates. Spring roars in like a lion from March through May with severe weather outbreaks (opens in new tab) that could bring damaging winds, hail, and tornados. As it goes out like a lamb, don’t expect too much of a break because right around the corner is the Atlantic hurricane season (opens in new tab), which lasts from June until the end of November.
They call it hurricane season for a reason, and all of Florida (opens in new tab) is affected every year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it will get better anytime soon, either. Hurricanes in recent years (opens in new tab) have been stronger, faster, less predictable, and much more dangerous due to having less time to prepare and evacuate. But hurricanes aren’t the only severe weather Floridians must contend with, as there have been more than 450 tornadic weather events (opens in new tab) in the past ten years alone.
Although the most common type of weather disaster in Georgia (opens in new tab) is thunderstorms, since it is a coastal state, it has also had its fair share of hurricanes (opens in new tab) and tornadoes (opens in new tab). While Tennessee may never see a hurricane, the state has seen a rising number of tornadoes (opens in new tab) in recent years. Something else worth noting is that Tennessee tornadoes are the deadliest in the country (opens in new tab) because more than half occur at night. Nocturnal tornadoes are harder to predict and even harder to alert the public about.
The High Cost of Severe Southern Weather
Since 1980, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida have had weather-related disasters that caused more than $1 billion each in losses:
In 2023 alone, the government spending on weather-related disaster relief for the entire US hit more than $92 billion, and that doesn’t even account for the winter storm that hit the northern East Coast in mid-December.
These are just the costs associated with damages due to severe weather that are calculated from assistance provided by the government. These figures usually don’t take into consideration the lost time when a business is closed for repairs after a severe weather event or even the lost revenue from the inability to reopen.
Prepare to Protect
The best way to get ahead of the negative effects of hurricanes and severe weather is to be prepared well in advance. Here are a few things to consider when it comes to disaster recovery preparedness:
- 40 percent of businesses won’t open after a disaster
- Only 54 percent of companies have an active disaster recovery plan
- 75 percent of businesses without a disaster plan close within three years of a natural disaster
You’ve invested too much money into your security system to allow Mother Nature to destroy it. As they say in sports, the best defense is a good offense, so preparing in advance can help save you a lot of time, money, and frustration in the long run. These tips will help make protecting your gates (opens in new tab), security system, and commercial premises (opens in new tab) a priority before the next storm hits:
Create and Implement a Disaster Plan
There are tools available through the government (opens in new tab) to help create a disaster plan that works for you and your business. Advanced planning can help save lives in the event of an emergency.
Know Your Risks
As mentioned above, Tennessee may not have to worry about hurricanes, but they have plenty of tornadoes and severe storms. Check the FEMA Flood Map (opens in new tab) to see if your business is at risk for flooding or storm surges, and keep an eye on incoming severe weather.
Prepare Your Property
In the event of an incoming hurricane or severe weather event, there are a few things you can do around your property to minimize damage:
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- Secure or remove rooftop objects like antennas or satellite dishes
- Bring in outdoor displays or signs
- Disconnect major electrical appliances
- Store important documents and records in a safe, elevated location
- Close and board up windows
- Lock all entrances and secure commercial overhead doors (opens in new tab) as you leave
Weather Damage Repair – Whether We Installed It or Not
With over thirty years of combined experience in service, maintenance, and repairs in the commercial security industry, we handle over 15,000 service calls a year. If you need assistance protecting your gates or should any part of your gated access equipment be damaged after a storm, no matter who installed it, you can trust that Guardian is qualified to handle the repairs.
Guardian Access Solutions provides commercial facility security equipment installation as well as service and maintenance (opens in new tab) for Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. When you need help weathering the damages after a storm, give us a call (opens in new tab).
