This page was printed from https://specialtyfabricsreview.com

Prepare now for a future disaster

Features | August 1, 2019 | By:

by Jeff Moravec

In a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Irma in 2017, business owners had to deal not only with repairing damage to their shops, but to their homes as well. Tornadoes, as well as the hurricane itself, ravaged the home of Oceanside Canvas’ owners on Cudjoe Bay in the Florida Keys. Photo: Steve Alberts, Oceanside Canvas.

Although extreme events such as fires, floods, hurricanes and other disasters were once considered rarities, they are becoming more common. Business owners need to ask themselves how they would survive such an ordeal—and what they need to do to prepare for the possibility. 

“Don’t think it can’t happen to you,” says Randi Kaplan, owner of Kaplan’s, an awning shop in Easton, Penn., that was flooded three times over a two-year period when it was located near the Delaware River.

“It’s a nightmare,” says Ed Skrzynski, owner of Marco Canvas and Upholstery LLC, in Marco Island, Fla. And he should know. In 2017, Skrzynski’s shop took a direct hit from Hurricane Irma, the most damaging storm ever to hit the state. 

According to Skrzynski, Kaplan and other business owners who have been through disasters, it’s not necessarily what you do after a disaster that’s most important to your future; it’s what you do before that determines the survival of your business.

Marco Canvas and Upholstery LLC, in Marco Island, Fla., took a direct hit in 2017 from Hurricane Irma, the most damaging storm ever to hit the state. The shop sustained major damage, but preparations—such as covering equipment—helped ensure that a bad situation wasn’t any worse. Photos: Marco Canvas.

“What you do in preparation is basically going to determine whether or not you’re going to get back open at all,” says Skrzynski.

Here, in their own words, are the stories of four fabricators who have been through disasters. Their stories, as well as the tips from disaster experts in these pages, can help you prepare for and recover from disasters. 

Ed Skrzynski

Skrzynski owns Marco Canvas and Upholstery LLC in Marco Island, Fla., which was damaged by Hurricane Irma.

“We took a direct hit from Hurricane Irma. We took the eye wall twice, from the front  down, roofs were peeled off, buildings were torn off their slabs. There was no water, no power, and just debris everywhere. 

Photo: Marco Canvas.

“You do what you can to prepare, but it’s not just happening at work. It’s happening at home, to employees, to vendors, to everyone. We closed down the shop three days prior to the storm to let employees go home and prepare.

“Our shop is a metal building, and the overhang was peeled back and twisted like a pretzel. The roof was rolled back about 65 feet and exposed the shop to saltwater, wind and rain. We did the best we could—boarded the shop up, braced the doors, covered the machines, put things up high—but the wind is just so powerful. But because we covered everything, we lost very little equipment. 

“Afterwards, you need cash flow. We went into our computer system and looked through our database of patterns. Anybody with a pattern was first in line for replacements because we needed that cash flow. We asked vendors to extend all our terms, and they did, because of our long-standing record of paying our bills. 

Photo: Marco Canvas.

“It’s a mixed blessing, but there is a lot of work after a storm like that. Then you realize after a year or two that you’ve just done 10 years’ worth of marine canvas and awnings. You need to think ahead. What are you going to do? You better be saving your money, looking at different markets or territories, or you’re going to go out of business even though you made it through the storm.”

Randi Kaplan

Kaplan owns Kaplan’s in Easton, Pa. Her awning business was flooded three times by the Delaware River.

“Flood stage on the Delaware is 22 feet, and with one of the floods, it crested at 39 feet. We had barricaded the doors but the water came up through the foundation.

Kaplan’s, an awning shop in Easton, Pa., was flooded three times in two years when it was located near the Delaware River. “Don’t think it can’t happen to you,” cautions owner Randi Kaplan. Photos: Kaplan’s Enterprises Inc.

“In the first flood, there was about five feet of water in our 7,500-square-foot basement, and the second time, it rose all the way to the ceiling. By the third flood, we had installed three sump pumps and two external pumps, but we still got four feet of water. 

“When we had the first flood, we had been storing awnings in the basement. To get them out, we had a human conveyer belt, handing things up to the second floor. 

Photo: Kaplan’s Enterprises Inc.

“We had old sewing machines with stands that were too heavy to move. The tables were what our grandfather had used and they were wooden. After that, every frame was metal, with plywood tops that were easy to replace. Everything was redesigned so if something were to happen, it was all easy to move.

“When we restored the basement, we replaced every electrical outlet so they were five feet off the ground. We also installed the Sheetrock® horizontally, so if the bottom part got wet, we could cut it and replace the lower section. We had a lot of things FEMA [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] wouldn’t cover, but they’re much more willing to work with you when you’re proactive in doing those things.

“We finally ended up moving to a building that was not in the floodplain with significantly higher elevation. After the third flood, it was difficult to keep going. It’s emotional. You just think you can’t go through that again. But nobody was injured, no lives were lost, and property can be replaced.”

Photo: Kaplan’s Enterprises Inc.

Steve Alberts

Alberts owns Oceanside Canvas in Cudjoe Key, Fla., which was damaged by Hurricane Irma. 

“We didn’t have much of a plan in place, really. We’d been there for three evacuations that didn’t turn out to be hurricanes, and after a while, you start thinking it’s not that big of a deal. We had been out of town and had only four days to move all our tools and evacuate for Irma.  

“The biggest issue in these storms is water damage; when half a roof is gone, that’s really from tornadoes. It would have been worse if we hadn’t moved the tools from the shop to our house, which is on stilts. The wind drives the saltwater so hard it actually sandblasts anything that’s exposed.

This home in Ramrod Key, Fla., was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Oceanside Canvas, located just a few miles away, was closed for two months following the storm. “The business interruption is tough,” says owner Steve Alberts. Photo: Steve Alberts, Oceanside Canvas.

“It was hectic,” says Alberts. “It’s better to have more of a plan in place. It would be a good idea to have premade emails that you could send to customers about what to do, maybe a prewarning to give clients a week or so to prepare. 

“The business interruption is tough. We were legally evacuated from the Keys for nearly a month, and that put a big halt on everything. We opened back up after two months, and I might have actually waited a few more weeks, but people were coming by wanting to get stuff done. Unless you have backup capital, it’s difficult to unexpectedly have your income halted for a couple of months.”

Jeff Kleger

Kleger is president of Jefco K. Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa. His awning business was severely damaged by fire in February 2008. 

“To survive a disaster, you need to have adequate insurance. This sounds like common sense, but in the real world it does not always work out that way. Your agent may be sincere, and you may have a long-term relationship with them, but they don’t always sell you what you need. In my case, they undervalued inventory in order to present a more affordable premium; that led to problems getting enough money back to cover the lost inventory. There is much more to your business than inventory.

Jeff Kleger, president of Jefco K. Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa., saw his awning business severely damaged by fire in 2008. After such a disaster, it’s important to “bear down and press ahead,” says Kleger. Photo: Leonard Neal Friedman.

“Know what you have—not just inventory and finished products going out, but the value of your IT, office equipment, anything you can put a number on. Have photographs and purchase information to back up your claim. 

“After the disaster, hire someone with experience to handle your insurance claim. Once your company is damaged, expect trouble at every turn. In my case, after moving to temporary quarters, the insurance company tried to end our business interruption coverage, even though the temporary location was not sufficient for our needs.

“Beyond insurance, you need adequate personal and business financial resources to carry you through the storm. Insurance payments will be few and far between while you and your adjuster argue with the carrier about what is covered by the policy.

“Even though you are competitive, you need to be friendly and supportive with your competition. To survive you need allies who can help you get your product out. In short, you need to create a collegial environment in which everyone in the business cares for each other. Your competitors need to understand that your survival is in their best interests.

“Be prepared for mood swings. No matter how well prepared, you will feel down and out, miserable, and like you have no funds no matter what your resources are. Money just flies out the door. 

“Always bear down and press ahead. To the outside world, you must present a normal picture of business as usual. You need to continue selling products as if nothing has changed. If anyone suspects you are in trouble, you will be in trouble. You will lose everything. In order to survive, you and your employees need product to go out and money to flow in. 

“Remember, you are going to get through the crisis. Nothing lasts forever.” 

Jeff Moravec is a freelance writer from Minneapolis, Minn.

“When preparing for a disaster, start by looking at your vulnerabilities,” says Alejandro Contreras, director of preparedness, communication and coordination for the Office of Disaster Assistance at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Washington, D.C. Fabricators in coastal states may want to pay special attention to hurricane-related threats. In other areas, wildfires, spring floods or earthquakes may present more of a concern. No matter where you do business, Contreras says, fabricators also need a plan to recover from a data breach, which isn’t often covered by disaster loan programs. 

Contreras’s recommendations for a six-step preparedness plan:

1) Establish a communications plan. Identify a person to be in charge of assessing the status of the staff. Are employees safe? Able to report to work? Designate a company spokesperson who will communicate with customers and other stakeholders. Let them know if you are still operating, how you’ve been affected and what the recovery plan is.

For example, says Contreras, you might not be able to get shipments or orders. “You need to communicate that directly, through your website and social media, and the media if possible. It’s critical to keep everyone informed,” he says.

2) Protect your documents. Cloud computing makes it easier to protect records electronically and to access them quickly. In a disaster, you’ll need them when you start the recovery process, when you file an insurance claim, or when you apply for assistance programs. “Not having to re-create records or worry about where they are is a big relief for businesses in a disaster,” says Contreras. “It simply speeds up the overall recovery process.”

3) Review insurance coverage. Almost everybody is guilty of not reviewing insurance coverage on a regular basis. Look at your most critical equipment and assets, and make sure they’re adequately covered, especially as your business operation grows and you add equipment.

It’s important to look at all forms of insurance, not just that which covers equipment losses. “You may benefit from business interruption insurance, cyber-security policies to help with system outages and issues like that,” says Contreras.

4) Have a solid supply chain. “If your business is affected by a natural disaster, chances are some of your suppliers will be affected. Have a list of alternative options, maybe out of area, that you can turn to,” says Contreras. 

5) Have an alternative location. Consider locations you could operate from temporarily. Determine the critical functions you would need in order to keep the business operating through the recovery period. 

6) Practice your disaster plan with staff. “And do it on a routine basis until it becomes a reflex, like fire drills,” says Contreras. Many disaster preparation toolkits are available online, at websites such as www.ready.gov and www.sba.gov/disaster. 

Recovering from a disaster is all about speed. You will be operating on a narrower margin, and even the slightest disruption can put a business at risk of failing. File insurance claims quickly, and check disasterassistance.gov to see if the disaster has been declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The SBA may also declare a disaster for which loans could be available. 

Donna Childs is the founder and CEO of Prisere LLC in Providence, R.I. She is the author of Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best: Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Small Businesses.

How should business owners prepare for a disaster?

“After putting together a plan to protect human safety, start by identifying assets that create value for your business. Your insurance policy may cover the replacement of physical assets, but what drives value for your business may be the location, trade secrets, intellectual property or some other intangible. Then do some process engineering on how your business works. Break work processes down, step by step, to consider how you would perform these processes in the event of a disruption.”

What should a business owner do in the immediate aftermath?

“Once you have ensured that everyone is safe, see which operations can be resumed and begin to prepare your insurance claim. Remember that your insurance policy has a notice provision; a time period by which you must file your claim or else forfeit it. Also, you may need more cash on hand than you think, as it can be hard to process a credit card payment or access a bank after a disaster.”

Share this Story