When damage from disaster strikes your business, it can take many forms: Fire (and the water damage that results from fighting it), smoke damage, flooding from nature, accidental discharge of a sprinkler system, chemical spills, tornadoes and other severe winds, storm surge, burst pipes, roof leaks, sewage backup, vandalism—even an overflowing toilet.
As the old business mantra goes, “time is money.” Every hour your business is closed because of an emergency is lost revenue. In fact, 25% of businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen. And 80% of businesses that do not recover within one month after a disaster close their doors for good.
If you have not considered an emergency response plan for your business, you're rolling the dice. But no matter what the damage or its source, speed is your friend to getting back up and open for business. Here are 6 reasons why:
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Your insurance policy probably requires that you take as much action as possible as early as possible to secure your property from further damage. If you fail to do so, they may not cover some claims.
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Water itself is an emergency. It can compromise structural components such as drywall, insulation, flooring and even ceilings to the point that it might be necessary to remove them, especially if it's left more than 24 hours.
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If water is addressed within 8-16 hours it can be dried with very minimal structural damage. This will save you repair costs and time as well as reducing the inconvenience for your employees or tenants.
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Dealing with the water in 12 hours or less can reduce your drying time by a whole day and reduce structural damage further.
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Significant mold growth can occur in any water-damaged area not dried and repaired within 72 hours, adding time and cost to your total cleanup.
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As previously mentioned, the longer your location is closed, the greater the chance it will be closed permanently.
You can't predict when disaster will strike your commercial property, but you can make sure you're ready for it when does. Lost time reduces your bottom line and can end your business. Getting your business back to pre-loss condition as quickly as possible can make all the difference.