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Unchartered territory: when preparing for hurricanes, factor in COVID-19

July 24, 2020 by NHSI

By Kent Koptiuch
Natural Resource Manager
Nestlé Waters North America

This year, our society has ventured into uncharted territory. Once again, we must all prepare for hurricane season, but this time we do so while faced with a full-scale global pandemic.

As a professional in the business of supplying water to others for healthy hydration, I have witnessed how the threat of COVID-19 changes the ways that families must prepare for, and respond to, hurricanes this season.

As we all assemble our hurricane kits, it’s critical that we include some key additional items for dealing with potential exposure to the coronavirus, whether our plan is to take shelter elsewhere or to shelter in place.

In addition to our typical inventory of non-perishable foods, water, flashlights, medical supplies, pet supplies, and battery-powered emergency radio, our hurricane kits should also be stocked with supplies for protecting our family members from the pandemic.

This should include hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and at least two cloth masks per person.

Jared Moskowitz, management director for Florida’s Division of Emergency, now recommends that families stock a fourteen-day supply of necessary medicines, along with a seven-day cache of food, water, and other critical supplies for each family member.

Keep everything in a portable cooler or waterproof tote that’s easy to grab on short notice. Every person in your family needs one gallon of water per person per day for every day of the week.

You should also keep water purification tablets on hand and consider having portable devices like water bottles or plastic pitchers that come with filtration systems to ensure access to clean, potable drinking water.

Finally, we can extend the life of our fresh and frozen food supplies, while simultaneously increasing our water supply by freezing plastic containers filled with water. If the power goes out, this ice will keep food in the freezer, refrigerator, and coolers from spoiling for longer periods.

When the ice does melt, it becomes water for drinking and washing. Download hurricane safety checklists at hurricanesafety.org/prepare/hurricane-safety-checklists/ for more information.

It has been a rough start to the year for all of us. There’s an old proverb that states, “Diligence is the mother of good luck.” The importance of hoping for the best but preparing for the worst cannot be overstated.

By taking the time now to plan ahead, we can more ably ride out, not only the lurking danger from hurricanes but also COVID-19. Be safe and healthy, everyone.

Filed Under: Get Ready, Florida, News, Resource Tagged With: COVID-19, hurricane, nestle waters, nestle waters north america

Don’t Go Into Another Hurricane Season Without This Important Business Tool

August 31, 2018 by NHSI

Speed of recovery means everything for businesses. You don’t want to wait days or weeks after a hurricane to reopen, because that’s lost income. What’s more, many businesses see a surge in demand after a hurricane, so they absolutely have to stay open or at least minimize downtime.

That’s why Assured Risk Cover created StormPeace for businesses. It’s designed to give business owners the cash infusion they need immediately after a hurricane so they can get back on their feet quickly.

Business interruption coverage is becoming increasingly popular, yet it has its limitations. Most commercial insurance policies require proof of physical damage before they will pay for business interruption. StormPeace, however, offers business interruption coverage with or without physical damage, because often all it takes is a power outage or evacuation order to force a business to close its doors.

Florida businesses are preparing for this hurricane with StormPeace – because the faster they recover, the sooner their customers and the local economy benefit. They can apply the funds toward a wide variety of expenses, including:

  • Temporary location rental
  • Transportation
  • Debris cleanup
  • New equipment
  • Business income loss or payroll expenses
  • Repairs

Like the StormPeace residential policy, applying for business coverage is simple. Just provide your business name and address and choose a policy limit, up to $60,000 and lower than your hurricane deductible, if you have one. There’s a simple, painless claims process and you’ll receive your payment within hours of the hurricane. The amount you receive is calculated based on the strength of the storm and its distance from your business location. It doesn’t matter how the loss was caused (e.g. by wind, flying debris, water, rain, storm surge, or mold from water), so long as the triggers are met.

According to FEMA, 40% of small businesses never reopen after a disaster, and another 25% that do reopen fail within a year. A small business can be extremely vulnerable to a major weather event, and it represents years of sweat equity and investment. The stakes are too high to leave anything to chance.

Get started at www.stormpeace.com today!

Filed Under: Get Ready, Florida, News Tagged With: Assured Risk Cover, business, hurricane, insurance, parametric insurance, StormPeace

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