Hurricanes are a risk for businesses across the Southeast.
They cause wind damage to businesses — including companies in inland areas, such as South Georgia. Hurricanes can also cause significant flooding. And repairs may take months.
This means that hurricanes can be extremely expensive for businesses. Costs skyrocket when hurricanes occur and they continue to escalate through the repair process. 
Fortunately, comprehensive business insurance can protect companies against hurricane-related costs. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your business to meet these concerns.
#1: Know What You Have
Contact your business insurance agent. Request information about your policy. Do you currently have hurricane coverage? Are you in a high-risk area for hurricanes? How much property insurance do you have? Have your agent answer these questions for you.
#2: What Are Previous Claims?
Your agent can help you here, too. What types of hurricane claims occurred in the area over the last 5 to 10 years? The answers will give you some idea of your true risk.
It is also important to know how costly these claims were. And if your business had previous claims, take this into consideration, too. How much were they? What areas suffered damage? Could you prevent that damage into the future? How will increasing or adjusting your coverage help you?
#3: Talk About Flood Insurance
Flood insurance is important, even in areas where hurricane risks are low. Most business insurance does not outright cover flooding.
Choose a flood insurance policy that reflects your company's risks. Your agent can tell you if you are in a flood zone. If you are, a higher level of insurance coverage is usually beneficial. Add it to your plan as an additional rider to keep flood cost risks under control.
#4: Consider Improving Your Property
To reduce costs, improve your office’s structural integrity. Shoring up ground floors can help. Work to ensure any excess water moves away from the property. Discuss updates to a roof that can withstand hurricane-force winds. Update to hurricane-strength windows.
Let your business insurance agent know about these updates. The added protection may reduce your financial risks. This, in turn, may lower your insurance costs.
#5: Update Your Policy Annually
Work with your business insurance agent. Each year, assess how much risk is present. Then, update the policy to provide better coverage.
Hurricane damage can be extensive. However, adequate coverage for current risks reduces those risks.
Not every business faces hurricane-related risks. Many still face severe storm risks, though. Work with your business insurance agent to address this. A policy should represent your specific risks.
Get covered today! Call Insurance Agencies Inc at (609) 646-1000 for a free Brigantine Hurricane insurance quote.