3 Ways Storm Damage Will Close Your Business Indefinitely - How to Avoid It During (And After) COVID

8/11/2020 (Permalink)

The economic impacts from Coronavirus has put unprecedented strain on local businesses. With storms hitting the Parkersburg, WV area in June as well, a few local businesses have been possibly affected forever. We want all local businesses to survive through this, so please read this post carefully.

There are 3 major ways that the damage affected these businesses and this article will equip you with how to keep afloat.

Losing Your Data

Water and storm damage can wipe all your information clean. From electrical corrosion to all out computer failure those vital documents can be forever lost, closing down your business due to the unbearable costs.

1. How to avoid this problem: Back it up! External hard-drives are extremely cheap these days. Set a weekly practice of backing up your computers and tablets. It’s frustrating, but think of it as very cheap insurance. Some companies like Apple even offer “Cloud” back ups which are automatically done on regular intervals.
2. What if you didn’t do this? There are multiple methods of restoration that you can investigate. There are companies that help recover damaged hard-drives in computers and tablets. It’s very important that you do not turn on the device. This may create a shortage and burn the storage. This will make it impossible to recover.

Ruined Documentation:

If you keep paper documentation it is important that you do not move the paper once wet. This can rip the sheets apart or even further smudge or leak the ink.

1. How to Avoid This Problem? Digitizing your paperwork is priority. Make it habitual and mandatory. Get one of your assistants or staff to do this daily, if not at least every 48 hours. This can be done easily by scanning to the computer.
2. What if I didn’t do this? The best option is to use sublimation. To find out more on this click here.

Damaged Work Place.

This is the most obvious but there are a few very important things to take into account: the foundations (floors, walls doors etc) and furniture (chairs, tables etc).

1. How to Avoid This Problem? If possible evaluate the drainage areas of the building and rooms. If your building has some ability to allow water to drain this will significantly minimize the magnitude of damage. Get insurance. This is a non-negotiable for businesses. Whatever you can afford, use it. You don’t need it until you need it. And when you do … you’re always glad you have it.
2. What If I didn’t do this? Water and storm damage restoration is an expensive endeavor. There are many parts that go into it and a restoration bill can be anywhere between $10,000 to $50,000 or more. This is dependent on the size of the venue, damage and other factors. Please, get insurance. If it’s the one thing you do from all of this.

We hope that this has helped. West Virginia needs all local businesses to stay alive during this time and beyond.

From the team at SERVPRO of Wood, Ritchie & Pleasants Counties.