NFIB

What To Do If Disaster Strikes Your Small Business
03/ 29/ 2002

by Vicki Gerson

Whether your small business is run out of your home or in a commercial building, you may not know what to do - or not do - when a disaster strikes. Certain steps can be taken to safeguard your property and business possessions. Other actions may cause more harm than good.

These tips from the National Institute of Disaster Restoration may help you in an emergency.

If you have fire and smoke damage:

1. Use a vacuum brush to take off smoke particles from upholstery, draperies and carpeting.

2. If the weather permits, open the windows for ventilation.

3. When the electricity is off, empty the refrigerator and freezer. The doors should be propped open for air circulation.

4. Hire a contractor as soon as possible to board up open windows and the roof to prevent additional damage.

What NOT to do:

1. Use food items and canned goods that have been exposed to heat.

2. Turn on computers, TVs or any electrical appliances until they have been checked by a professional.

3. Clean the walls, ceilings or other surfaces yourself.

4. Use upholstered furniture damaged by smoke and debris.

If you have water damage, it's important to deal with it quickly to prevent mildewing:

1. Ventilate the areas by turning on the air conditioning in the summer. In the winter, alternate opening windows and using heat.

2. Freeze books and documents to retard mildew growth. This prevents more damage until they can be properly dried.

3. Take computers away from these areas to a dry environment.

4. Do not enter rooms with sagging ceilings.

5. If possible pick up wet rugs and carpets.

6. Remove standing water by sponging.

What NOT to do:

1. Turn on TVs, vacuums or other appliances while standing on wet carpeting or floors (including wet concrete).

2. Use heat to dry a closed building. The result will be mildew and more moisture damage.

3. Leave wet fabrics as they are. They need to be dried as soon as possible.

If you have sewage and flood damage, keep in mind that it contains bacteria as well as other organisms that are dangerous to everyone. Often carpeting and drywall are not even restorable.

1. Do not allow children, pets or employees in the contaminated areas.

2. Because decontamination must be done properly, treat all water-impacted surfaces and furnishings as toxic. It's important to find a company that has expertise in this area and can decontaminate correctly.

What NOT to do:

1. Try to decontaminate surfaces with over-the-counter germicidal products. They most likely won't completely disinfect the contaminated surfaces.

2. Track contaminated material into undamaged areas. Tracking can take place by simply walking from a contaminated room to a clean one.

If your business is vandalized, call the police before you take any action. The police department needs to see the actual damage before you try to clean up the mess.

1. Hose down egg damage from the building's exterior as soon as possible, as it can cause permanent damage.

2. Use a vacuum to pick up glass particles from the carpet and upholstery.

3. Save containers and spray cans because they will reveal the inks and pigments.

4. Save wood chips and fragments from art objects, porcelain and furniture.

What NOT to do:

1. Attempt to remove ink, paint or other stains yourself. If you don't handle them properly, they can be permanently set.

When dealing with any type of damage, one of the first things you should do is make a call to your insurance agent. Some insurance companies authorize immediate repairs like boarding up windows and roofs, while others will tell you to do nothing until you talk to the adjuster and have a claim number. It's wise to know your insurance company's policy if disaster strikes. Call your insurance agent and find out the rules.

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