The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season was very active: 16 named storms, eight of them hurricanes and five of those major hurricanes. It was the fourth busiest year since 1944 and the only year on record in which a major hurricane existed in the North Atlantic in every month from July through November.

Last year’s Hurricane Ike was the third-most destructive U. S storm ever behind Katrina in 2005 and Andrew in 1992. More than 110 people died and property damage topped $24 billion in the U.S. Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall in Louisiana, caused $4.3 billion in damage.

Five previous hurricane seasons—1951, 1968, 1976, 1985 and 2001—had characteristics similar to what was observed in the Atlantic and Caribbean during this past February and March. Interestingly, four of those five years saw significant tropical storm development in May and June. In fact, in 1951 the southeast coast had a major hurricane in mid to late May.

Early forecasts are calling for 12 named storms this season, six of which will become hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

Getting Your Hotel Ready
Whether you are on the coast or safely inland, hurricanes can have an impact on you and your area. Storms can reach far inland and affect many communities in the U.S. It’s important to learn about your local hurricane warning system. If a hurricane is imminent, the emergency operations center will issue evacuation orders. Stay tuned to local weather watches and warnings on TV and radio.

There are a number of important measures to take to prepare your property or properties:

Ensure that your emergency plan is up-to-date. Be sure to update your site plan and contact information. All copies of the emergency plan must be updated, including any copies kept off property. (Give copies to the local police and fire departments, while members of the hotel’s executive committee should take copies home.)

Ensure that the management team, security staff, housekeeping staff, engineers, and guest services staff are familiar with the emergency plan. Schedule refresher training with all employees on the following items:
• Individual responsibilities, communication procedures and media communications;
• Site plans and maps; and
• Emergency contact lists and any special notification procedures.

Conduct table-top exercises with core personnel prior to hurricane season.

Be sure your weather alert is functioning properly. If your office doesn’t have a weather alert, consider signing up for a notification system.

Getting Your Home Ready
Just as it’s important to prepare your hotel for potential disaster, it’s equally critical to make sure your family and home are ready for the storm season. Here are a few things to consider:

• Take a few minutes with your family to develop a hurricane emergency plan. Sketch a floor plan of where you live, and walk through each room and discuss where and how to seek shelter.
• Show a second way to exit from each room or area. If you need special equipment, such as a rope ladder, mark where it is located.
• Make sure everyone understands if your home is located in a flood zone.
• Mark the locations of your first-aid kit and fire extinguishers.
• Mark the locations of the utility switches or valves so you or other family members can turn them off—if time permits—in an emergency.
• Teach your family how to administer basic first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher and how and when to turn off water, gas and electricity in your home.
• Learn the emergency dismissal policy for your child's school.
• Make sure your children know what is a hurricane; what are hurricane watches/warnings; and what county or parish they live in since warnings are issued by county/parish.
• Follow all evacuation orders issued by your local emergency operations center.
• If you evacuate, establish a contact person outside the affected area that you can communicate with so others know you’re safe.
• Conduct table-top exercises and ask questions to make sure your family remembers safety information, particularly how to recognize hazardous weather conditions and how to take shelter.

For additional information on hurricane preparedness, see the checklist following the article.

Mert Price is vice president of business development for Valor Security Services. Valor Security is a member of AHLA and provides security for hotels, resorts, malls and mixed-use properties across the U.S. He can be reached at mertprice@valorsecurity.com or 770-361-1191.


Hurricane Season Preparation Checklist

Supplies
• Designate a secure storage area for hurricane supplies and equipment. The type and quantity of supplies and equipment needed for different properties is site-specific.
• Purchase additional supplies to have enough on hand to endure five to seven days without electrical power and basic service.
• Locate any keys or valve wrenches that may be required.

Communication
• Review your emergency response plan with the property management staff, guest services staff, security staff, engineering staff and housekeeping staffs, as well as local police and fire departments.
• Monitor a weather radio and other media outlets when tropical storms or hurricanes are threatening your community (this may be done by the security staff).
• Consider placing the public address system, maintenance and public safety radio repeaters on the emergency generator circuit.
• Have the pre-written notification statements easily located by the public address system (if applicable).
• Contact all service providers and vendors (janitorial, landscaping, plumbers, carpenters) and ensure contact information and availability both pre and post hurricane.
• Consider signing up for a weather alert notification system.

Building
• Locate and protect building plans which may be needed if there is structural damage to the property.
• Be sure all emergency equipment is in its proper locations and available to all team members at the property.
• Prior to hurricane season, identify items around the exterior of the building which are not permanently attached which may become a projectile during a hurricane, e.g., trash cans, benches, scaffolding.
• Engineers should conduct a detailed inspection of the roof to ensure that all roof-mounted equipment (exhaust fans, roof HVAC, etc.) and perimeter flashing is secure. If anything can be lifted by hand it will be moved by a tornado.
• Engineers should visually inspect all rooftop units to ensure that service panels are firmly screwed in place. Make sure all antennaes and satellite dishes are properly secured.

Miscellaneous
• Review electrical, water, gas and sprinkler shutoff locations with security, engineering and maintenance.
• Test emergency generators and top off fuel to ensure enough fuel is available for after the event. Your generators should be tested under load to ensure that the transfer switch and emergency lighting is functioning properly.
• Keep security and maintenance vehicles fueled.
• Check that floor equipment is in excellent working order and contractor is prepared for intensive post-event clean up.
• Re-familiarize yourself with the designated shelter locations within your community.