Tag: hurricane season

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS FOR HURRICANE SEASON

July 21, 2023

With forecasters predicting the 2022 hurricane season to be one with above-normal activity, it’s time to ensure you have prepared your business to act quickly should you find yourself in the path of a storm. With these tips, you can keep not only your team but also your business operations safe and secure, with as few disruptions as possible.

Create a plan of action and distribute it.

While you may think a few days before a hurricane hits is enough time to fully prepare, it is imperative to have a plan in place beforehand. Storms can be unpredictable and not having something outlined ahead of time only leaves you susceptible. Your plan should include how you anticipate to monitor storms and give updates to your team, how you plan to communicate and maintain continuity should you lose power and who will do what to ensure all of your important documents and information is secure. Simply having a plan is only the first step – Next, it’s important to test it to make sure everything runs smoothly and that there are no gaps in the process. Lastly, you’ll need to make sure every one of your team members has documentation of the plan should it need to be put in place.

Secure all of your important assets.

When we say all assets, we mean ALL – your people, your facilities, and of course, your data and electrical equipment. Make sure you have an up-to-date contact list of everyone on your team and any important third-party partners so that it’s easy to check in and ensure that they have all of the equipment they need to be able to work remotely if necessary. Assess your physical location to identify any areas of improvement, such as a leaky roof or window, and invest in shutters or plywood, and sandbags to mitigate potential damage. For your important equipment, unplug your computers and servers and store them in a high place. Make sure your data is properly protected, backed up and accessible remotely should your location lose power.

Stay in constant communication.

With everything in place, all that’s left is to be sure you stay on top of what’s going on in your area, communicate it as best you can with your team and your customers, and act in a fluid manner. Utilizing a VoIP cloud-based communication system is one way to integrate all of your business operations in one place. It’ll store all of your information in a cloud that’s accessible to anyone, anywhere, even if the power in your office goes down. Interested in learning more about this service, our IT management offerings or our generator installation and management capabilities? Contact us to guarantee that you are fully prepared for the unexpected.

Tips to Prepare for Hurricane Season

March 16, 2021

Although Hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June, you can still get prepared for what lies ahead. Being prepared well in advance not only brings peace of mind, it gives your confidence knowing that your valuables are protected.

It’s no joke the devastation a natural disaster can bring. The most recent unexpected ice storms that left many people without power in the freezing cold showed us this could happen at a moment’s notice any time of the year. That is why making sure you have the necessary supplies and equipment before one strikes is essential. Perhaps the number one thing you can do is install a Gage home generator with Gage generator maintenance to protect your family and home.

We want to share with you a few tips on how to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.

Get Your Family Prepared
We recommend that you make your family a safety kit. Get all the essential supplies you’ll need and put them in the kit. Include non-perishable foods, medical supplies, flashlights, water, a battery-powered or hand brand radio, and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert as well as extra batteries. Put the kit in a safe and easily accessible location. Share a hurricane plan with your children, so everyone is on the same page and knows what to do.

Call Your Insurance Agent
Find out what kind of coverage you have in your insurance policy. Make sure it covers hurricane and flood damages. Ask them to explain your plan in-depth to understand the entire scope of your policy.

Safety
Make sure you know your surroundings and have a designated safe place in your home for you and your family to take shelter. Plan an evacuation route to be safe. Making sure everyone knows where to go and what to do can potentially save lives.

Assess Your Home
Check with a home building inspector to ensure you’re up-to-date with codes for hurricane protection. Installing a Gage generator with Gage generator maintenance is an excellent way to guarantee your home has power even when there are power outages. Never underestimate the importance of having a sound generator.

Now some of these tips may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised by the number of people who find themselves without power when they need it most. By preparing now, well in advance of the actual hurricane season, you can rest easy if a hurricane strikes. Give Gage a call to request a quote and learn more about how we can help you prepare.

Business Continuity Tips During Hurricane Season

July 12, 2019

Gage Standby Power Generator Services - Baton Rouge, LA

While safety is everyone’s #1 concern during a hurricane, we also understand the importance of business continuity before, during and after the storm. Business down time can be devastating to Small- or Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs). Here are some tips to make sure you are prepared to get your business operations back up and running in the event of a natural disaster.

// Have a Tested Plan.

The first step is to make sure you have a well defined Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) in place. If you have an in-house IT team, or an external managed service provider, you may already have this in place. However, don’t wait until hurricane season to make sure, and test your plan regularly, as things change often in business. Run a mock disaster recovery test to assess your plan in action, identify any weakness or kinks, and make adjustments before a problem arises. A solid DRP will include a list of your critical business functions with an analysis of your processes and recovery plans for each, as well as a recovery time objective.

// Protect Your Assets – Physical or Digital.

Take a good look at your office and make sure you’ve considered the potential damages a hurricane can bring. Turn off and unplug computers and equipment if possible and raise things from the floors wherever possible in case of flooding. Power outages are often inevitable during a hurricane – make sure your data is protected and backed up, as well as accessible by your off-site team if you need to get up and running and don’t have access to your office. If it’s critical for your businesses to remain operational, maintain temperature control, or you just want to protect your assets in the event of an extended power outage, you should consider installing a standby generator. Finally, it’s a good time to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage to protect your assets.

// Enable Your Team For Remote Work.

Once the storm has cleared, or even in the days leading up to a storm, you’ll want to make sure your team is able to work remote if necessary. Whether your office is inaccessible, or your team just needs to be home with their families, you can enable them to work from home as necessary by making sure files are accessible, there is a point person assigned for critical projects, and all employees have the tools and methods in place for ongoing communication. Many SMBs will provide their employees with laptops, cell phones and a mobile hotspot to make sure they have what they need to get back up and running remotely.

// Establish a Communication Plan.

Make sure your team knows who to contact and establish a point person for critical projects. Another thing that’s often overlooked is making sure you have your team’s personal contact details up to date. Communicate with your customers and vendors as well if there is critical information they need to know or downtime you are anticipating.

// Utilize Your Cloud VoIP Capabilities.

This scenario is exactly what a cloud voice communication system is made for. Maximize your unified communication tools to help with business continuity. Ensure customers can continue to reach you as necessary by forwarding your calls to cellular devices, keep team members in communication with tools like instant messaging and video conferencing, and more. Your system may do more than you know – get in touch with your provider to understand your system’s capabilities, or maybe it’s time to consider upgrading to a new system that allows you to facilitate communication in the event of a disaster.

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Our Gage Cloud Voice platform is truly the last phone system you’ll ever need. More than just a phone system, Gage Cloud Voice a cloud based, carrier-class complete VoIP communications solution that gives business the ability to be accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device, precisely for scenarios like disaster recovery after a hurricane. In addition, we offer a complete suite of fully managed IT services with our Insite program that will assist with backups, security monitoring, disaster recovery, and more. Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule a consultation.

4 Things that Set Cummins Generators Apart

August 9, 2018

GAGE is proud to offer a product line like Cummins that provides efficient, fully-integrated power generation systems built for reliability in uncertain circumstances. From homes to office buildings and medical facilities, their power generation products inspire confidence and keep the lights on. What sets Cummins generators apart?

// Fuel Consumption

Cummins fuel consumption beats other competitors in the market, and their crank only exercise mode feature helps to save fuel.

// Load Management

Cummins intelligent load management system is integrated, smart, faster than competitors and economical for customers.

// Noise Levels

Cummins has designed and tested their generators for minimal noise in the Cummins Acoustical Testing Center, the largest sound testing facility in the industry, resulting in super-quiet operation, perfect for residential neighborhoods.

// Remote Monitoring

Cummins ConnectCloud is integrated into the generator at no additional cost and able to be remotely controlled and monitored from an Apple or Android app.

Gage is an Authorized Partner of Cummins Power Generation Systems. If you’re in the market for a home or commercial generator, schedule an appointment with a GAGE representative today to develop a custom solution tailored for you.

4 Reasons to Consider a Standby Generator

July 25, 2018

While many know about standby generators, there are still a lot of questions about how they work, how much they cost, and whether or not they are worth it. At the very least, power outages can be a minor inconvenience, but for many individuals and business owners alike, they can create very difficult and even dangerous situations. Besides the obvious benefit of immediate power restoration, what can backup power with a standby generator do for your home or business?

// Protect your investments

While the first thing many people think about when it comes to generators is how costly they can be, we would argue that the cost of not owning one could quickly add up to just as much if not more. With an extended power outage, your property could undergo significant damages that could result in costly remedies such as mold mitigation; and if you’re a business owner, you already know how impactful loss of business could be.

// Fuss-free upkeep

Unlike portable generators, standby generators do not operate on external fuel tanks that need to be kept full and fresh. In fact, most options will connect directly to your gas line and won’t require any work at all for you to ensure it’s always accessible and ready when you need it. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning or electrocution risks often associated with the running and maintaining a portable generator.

// Keep your home safe

The value of installing a permanent standby generator is clear – you want to ensure that your family, property, or business can remain as safe and comfortable as possible in the event of a natural disaster. Uninterrupted power will ensure that your security system continues to protect your property even during an extended power outage. And if a family member has a medical situation, a standby generator could be critical to their continued care.

// Increase your property value

Standby generators are a permanent upgrade to your home, and buyers will be sure to take note. Statistics show you will likely recoup 54% of the cost of a standby generator within a year, but in addition to this, prospective buyers will see this as a notable differentiator and added benefit that your property is already equipped to make their lives smoother in the event of a power outage.

A power outage this hurricane season does not have to put your home or business in the dark. More than anything, the right standby generator for your needs can bring you peace of mind in an otherwise difficult situation. We’re here to help you make the right decision for your business or family. Learn more about our standby generator services, or contact us for a free site evaluation for your home or business in Baton Rouge, LA and the surrounding areas.

Protect Your Pets: Before, During & After a Storm

July 6, 2018

Now that we are officially in hurricane season, there is no better time to begin preparing for the possible disruptions extreme weather can cause. You may already have the basic necessities stored away and your documents and photos easily accessible, but have you considered making preparations for your pets as well? We all love our animal companions, but during the 2017 hurricane season, countless pets were abandoned or lost in the chaos. Consider your pet’s safety as you prepare this year – before, during and after a storm.

Before the Storm:

Assemble an emergency kit in case you need to evacuate your home, just like you would for yourself and your family. In the kit, include care items such as:

Sufficient food and water for at least a week
A photo with your pet, paperwork, or any other identifying documents you may have that may serve as proof of ownership if they end up missing. If your pet is microchipped, make sure their information and tags are up-to-date.
A copy of any medical and vaccination records you have, as well as a current rabies vaccination tag
Likewise, be sure to gather any medication your pet may be on.
Create a home away from home for them: gather a sturdy yet comfortable carrier, along with some comfort items like a favorite toy or cozy blanket.
Don’t forget small care necessities, like a leash, collar or harness, and waste bags or litter box.

If you will be riding out the storm out at home, keep in mind that severe weather can lead to power outages that can last for days or even weeks at a time. You may want to consider installing a standby generator – a backup power supply that can help provide comfort and safety inside your home even if the power goes out.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to research local shelters that allow pets, and even contact them in advance about pre-registration or any special requirements for pets so you’re not left scrambling at the last minute.

During the Storm:

Keep pets away from floodwaters – do not let them play, swim or drink, as there can be harmful bacteria and toxins.
In fact, be sure to bring your pets inside before the storm begins and keep them there as long as possible.
Make sure your pets are wearing a securely-fastened collar with their most current identification information. If you need to evacuate, it’s a good idea to also include the phone number and address of your temporary shelter.
Just as you would with small children, try to remain calm, as pets can be very intuitive and sense your fear. Keeping calm will help your pets stay calm as well.

After the Storm:

Even after the storm has passed, do not let pets roam freely. Continue to keep them away from lingering floodwaters, as well as any other hazardous debris on the ground.
If your pet was lost or alone at any point during the storm, check them thoroughly for injuries, and treat any minor wounds immediately. If you are unsure, take them to a veterinarian for evaluation.
If you sustained damage to your home or the surrounding areas, your pet may be disoriented. Keep them on a leash until they are able to reorient themselves.
However, the best way to help your pet recover is to resume your normal routine as quickly as possible!

Everyone, including your pet, wants to feel as comfortable and safe as possible during the uncertain times of severe weather. Always be prepared and have peace of mind for yourself, your family, and your pets.

Source: Cummins Newsroom, June 20, 2018

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