Prep Your Business for Hurricane Season

Yes, folks, it's that time of year. That time where the first sentence of a conversation isn't usually, "So what are you doing this weekend?" but is instead, "So what did Bob say the weather's doing?" (That's Bob Breck for you un-Louisianaianas).

So what can you do for your business this hurricane season?

First off, you basically should do the same things you do for your home:

• Make your evacuation plans and plans to secure your home upone evacuation.
• Take photographs and videos of ALL your inventory, supplies and equipment. If possible, try to take any important business paperwork when you leave, tax papers, supply lists, inventory lists, etc.
  
• If possible, you may want to consider taking some of your supplies and inventory. Why? Well, this all depends on WHERE you live in evacuation country and what your craft is. If you own an extremely expensive sewing machine, you may want to go ahead and take it with you! For some people their craft supplies are almost important to them as their photographs! So only you can figure out what is most important to shove in the car!
• At the very least, take photos, preferably video of your items just as you would your home inventory. Receipts, prices, and vital information about the items you photograph/video is always helpful to. "Sewing Machine" is not nearly as helpful should you have to file a claim as "Brother Computerized CE-40 Sewing Machine, Purchased,2008, 80.00 Ebay.com".
  
• Ahead of time, prepare an "Evacuation" banner and message for your online shops. I will gladly create one and put it in our group should we need it! (Hopefully not!) If you sell on Etsy, Artfire, etc, put your shops on vacation with an explanation when you evacuate so sellers will know where you are.
• GROUP MEMBERS: Post in the forums if you are evacuating! In any occurrence of a hurricane, we will have a thread specifically for that storm for a 'roll call' and contact information. This will help us make sure you are safe, sound and how to find you when we resume our normal lives!
• Last but not least...take a step back, enjoy the summer, and remember, we've done this before, we'll do it again, and we will survive!

Here's to a safe, boring hurricane season. If you are so inclined, I wrote an article about a Greener Hurricane Recovery on Handmade News. You can find it here.

~~~Amy