Hurricane preparedness for your business is crucial, and the Tomlin Team wants you to have the following steps in mind this season to assist in the safeguarding of your commercial business and residential properties.

Seasonal Preparation

TRACKING STORMS

Stay informed about developing storms and their trajectories. Reliable resources include the National Hurricane Center’s website and the Windy app, which provides wind speeds and storm projections.

Insurance Coverage

Maintaining up-to-date insurance coverage is crucial. Ensure your premiums are paid on time, as insurers will not pay claims without the payment of premiums. Contact the Tomlin team today to review your coverage and address any concerns.

The Underinsurance Clause

Underinsurance is a common pitfall that can leave you financially vulnerable in the face of a hurricane. Consider this scenario: you insure your property for a value lower than its actual replacement cost, either to save on premiums or because you believe you won’t experience significant damage. However, when a hurricane strikes and causes partial damage, the underinsurance clause comes into play. This means that your claim payout will be proportionally reduced based on the gap between your insured value and the actual cost of repairs. To avoid this issue, it is essential to ensure your coverage matches the current replacement cost of your property. Read more here

The Catastrophe Deductible

This deductible applies to perils such as windstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or floods caused by these events. The deductible is not a fixed percentage of the claim amount but rather a percentage (usually 2% to 5%) of the sum insured. In Barbados, where our main offices are located, the catastrophe deductible is 2% of the sum insured. However, in other Caribbean islands, it can be as high as 5%. It’s crucial to calculate and understand this deductible as it can be a significant amount.

Safeguarding Your Property

See one of our many insurance partner’s guide here

Before the Storm Arrives

Commercial Preparation

General Commercial Business Preparation

Step 1: Protect Property

Remove any branches or trees adjacent to your building that could potentially fall and cause damage
Sandbag any areas that are subject to flooding
Relocate any valuable or fragile possessions
Secure electronics such as computers and other office equipment
If possible, turn off all utilities prior to a hurricane making landfall.
Secure all doors and windows
Turn off electricity to all non-essential equipment and shut down production processes
Where applicable, ensure generators are working to preserve produce in the event of a power outage

Step 2: Protect important documents and information

List and save all important contacts crucial to business operations, such as employees, brokers, banks, lawyers, accountants, suppliers etc.
To avoid water damage, back-up documents that are not easily reproduced such as insurance documents, legal contracts, tax returns and financial records.
Seal important documents in waterproof containers onsite, and if possible, in an alternate accessible off-site location.

Step 3: Prepare a Hurricane Kit for your office

Essential items include:

Battery operated radio
First Aid kit
Flashlight, batteries and portable external powerbanks
Tarps, plastic bags and duct tape
Updated employee records
Emergency services contact information, along with insurance company and Tomlin Team contact

PREPARATION FOR SPECIFIC SECTORS

We know that different sectors such as retailers, hotels and construction also require additional preparation.

Hotels & Resorts

Ensure landscaping is well kept and any tree limbs that could become hazardous are trimmed
Ensure gutters are cleaned to ensure proper drainage
Where applicable, secure outdoor furniture like chairs, umbrellas, patio furniture etc.
Secure motorized and non-motorized water sports equipment
Notify the guests of the impending bad weather and advise them of the hotel’s safety procedures

Construction Companies

Secure and store all job site equipment and materials, including loose materials, trash, hazardous chemicals, signage
Make sure backup generators are properly fueled.
Secure all structures under construction by boarding up doors and windows, and adding sandbags around the perimeter of the job site
Cancel deliveries to the jobsite until after the storm passes.

Residential Preparation

Identify nearby emergency shelters, create an evacuation plan, and have a bag prepared with essential supplies, including baby food, medications, and necessities.
If you doubt the safety of your home during the storm, seek shelter with a family member, friend, or neighbour.
If you live in a flood-prone area, move to higher ground immediately.
Inspect your home for damage-prone areas, and secure it with shutters if winds are projected to exceed a certain threshold
Clear drains in your vicinity of debris.
Contact the APUA to trim branches near power lines and ensure there are no branches touching your house. (Antigua)
Secure loose objects around your home to prevent them from becoming hazards in high winds.
Stock up on non-perishable food and water.
Safeguard important documents and valuables in a waterproof bag.
Plan for pets, as many shelters do not accommodate them.
Offer assistance to elderly and mobility-challenged family members, friends, and neighbours.

Track Official Updates in the Eastern Caribbean

Barbados: visit the GIS website (see Facebook)
St Kitts: tune into the Government Radio Station ZIZ 96.1 FM
St Lucia: visit http://nemo.gov.lc/
Antigua: tune into Observer Radio FM 91.1 and ABS Radio – FM 90.5
Grenada: NaDMA Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique.
St. Vincent: visit nemo.gov.vc

After The Storm

Making a Claim

In the event of a hurricane, if there is damage to your home, hotel, or commercial property, here is a 6-step guide to help make a claim less stressful for you during the recovery process:

Commence the Cleanup

Once the storm has subsided and Emergency Services declares it safe, initiate the cleaning process and carry out any necessary temporary repairs to secure your premises.

Document the Damage

Capture photographs of the property damage meticulously, and if feasible, share the GPS coordinates by sending location pins via WhatsApp. These detailed records will greatly aid the insurance company’s loss adjusters when assessing your claim.

Track Emergency Repair Expenses

Maintain an accurate record of the expenses incurred for emergency repairs. These details will be crucial while submitting your claim to the insurance company.

Secure Damaged Equipment and Personal Belongings

Keep any damaged equipment or personal items in a safe location for inspection by a loss adjuster. It is essential to allow the insurers to assess and agree upon the extent of the damage before proceeding with permanent repairs.

Notify Us Promptly

Contact us without delay. The dedicated Tomlin Brokers team is here to assist you in swiftly completing the necessary forms following the event. Remember, there is typically a specified time frame within which you must notify insurance companies after a storm, so kindly inform us of any damage as soon as possible.

Obtain Repair Estimates:

Begin the process of soliciting estimates for the repairs required to restore your damaged property. These estimates will facilitate the claims process by providing an accurate assessment of the necessary expenses.

Preparing for Hurricane Season: A Guide for Caribbean Businesses by Tomlin Insurance Brokers