Atlantic Hurricane Season 2025: Business Preparedness Checklist for Coastal South Carolina

Hurricane season 2025 is nearly here, and if you own or run a business in Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand, or anywhere along the South Carolina coast, now is the time to get ready.

A big storm can cause serious problems for your business, but with some planning, you can protect your property, your team, and your bottom line before and during Hurricane Season 2025.

Here’s a simple 7-step checklist to help you prepare.

1. Make a Business Continuity Plan

Start by writing down what you’ll do before, during, and after a hurricane.

• Who’s in charge of what?
• How will you keep in touch with your employees?
• What’s your plan if you have to close for a few days or more?
• How will you communicate after the storm?

Make sure everyone on your team knows the plan and their role in it.

2. Protect Your Property

Take a walk around your business and look for things that need fixing before a storm arrives.

Check the roof, doors, and windows. If you have storm shutters, make sure they’re ready to use. Move important equipment and inventory to higher ground if possible, and secure anything outside that could blow away or cause damage.

3. Stock Up on Emergency Supplies

Have a solid supply of water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit at your business.

If you have a generator on-site, test it now. Make sure you have enough fuel to run it. These supplies can help your team stay safe if you’re caught at work during a storm or need to come back before power is restored.

Don’t forget to have cleaning supplies at hand for afterward, including Clorox, wipes, trashbags, wet vacuum, brooms, paper towels and cleaning solution.

4. Back Up Your Data

Make sure all your important business data is backed up in the cloud or off-site each and every. Protect paper records in waterproof containers.

This way, if your building is damaged, you won’t lose everything, and it’s accessible at any time should you lose access to your building for an extended amount of time.

5. Update Your Contact List

Have an up-to-date list of employee phone numbers, as well as contact emails for vendors, customers, and emergency services.

Set up your out-of-office message with an emergency phone number to go into effect as soon as you know you’ll have to shut down your business.

Make sure everyone knows how to get in touch if you need to close or change your hours.

NOTE: If you have local contacts with electricians, contractors, roofers, landscapers, and plumbers, be sure to have that info handy. You might have to rely on their work to get you back in business!

6. Review Your Insurance

Talk to your insurance agent as soon as possible, and make sure your property, flood, and business interruption insurance are current and provide enough coverage.

Know what your policy includes, and what it doesn’t. Keep copies in several places for easy access.

7. Plan for After the Storm

Once the storm passes, you’ll need a checklist for reopening.

Check your building for safety, contact your employees, and let your customers know when you’ll be back open. Having a plan in place makes it easier to get back to business quickly.

This is also when you will need to evaluate what’s required in order to reopen, which might include cleaning and fixing things.

Hurricane Season 2025 “Be Prepared” Like the Boy Scouts!

Hurricanes are a fact of life here on the coast, but being prepared can make all the difference.

Take the time now to get your business ready, and you’ll be able to weather the storm with less worry. If you need help with security systems or disaster planning, Strand Security is here for you and your business.

Stay safe this hurricane season, Myrtle Beach!