For many of us, winter often brings brutal storms that can leave us and our community stranded — sometimes without power for days at a time. But no matter where you live, disaster planning is essential. Every $1 spent on preparation is the equivalent of $4 in recovery costs. To help you protect your business when the power goes out, here are seven tips that convenience stores and gas stations can implement this winter.
1. Develop a Recovery Plan: According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 40% of businesses affected by a disaster never reopen. Take the time to develop a written plan detailing how your store will get up and running after a storm. It should include key personnel and their roles and responsibilities. For those in warmer locales, use winter to prepare for your next volatile season. You’ll experience the best selection of materials, service and pricing in the off-season.
2. Back Up Important Data: Store digital and hard copies of important information off-site and within easy access. Information may include financial statements, accounting systems, HR data, contracts, insurance paperwork and vendor details. Develop a plan to back up data on a regular basis.
3. Have a Communication Plan: Develop a phone tree that establishes the channel of communication between employees, managers, and the owner(s) during an emergency. You may also designate one phone number that allows employees to listen to safety information and whether the store will remain open or closed on a given day.
4. Create an Employee Emergency Kit: Assemble a kit that can be used by employees on duty during a storm. It should include a flashlight, batteries, hand-crank or battery powered radio, and safety procedures. If the power goes out, they’ll appreciate having this kit within arm’s reach.
5. Develop a Shutdown Procedure: A convenience store may decide to remain open throughout a storm. However, if the decision is made to evacuate, be sure to have shutdown procedures in place for employees to follow. Determine what systems need to be turned off (this will help prevent damage to equipment and avoid overloading the system when the power comes back on), how to handle cash on hand and how to secure the store.
6. Use Portable Generators Safely: Keep employees and customers safe from carbon monoxide poisoning by using portable generators outside only and moving them away from open doors and windows. Never plug a portable generator directly into your store’s electrical system; electricity could flow backward into the power lines, endangering lives. Rather, plug items directly into a portable generator using properly rated extension cords.
7. Consider a Standby Generator: A standby generator turns on automatically when your store loses power. Depending on its size, it can power critical components such as lighting, a few gas pumps and coolers and point-of-sale systems to your entire store, including HVAC. To determine what size is best for you, consider your objectives — whether it is to protect inventory, the building, revenue or all of the above. Ask yourself, “What would it cost if I lost all my perishable items, if my pipes froze and burst, or if I missed out on sales for days at a time? What could I gain if I was able to remain in business but my competition did not?”
Once you determine your objectives, you can work with an experienced generator professional to select the best size generator for your specific needs. You should also keep current on news and information regarding standby power that may affect you. For example, the state of New York released new mandates requiring that gas stations be wired for generators by April of next year. Meanwhile, more than 250 gas stations in New Jersey will be eligible for $7 million in federal funding to purchase generators that will keep fuel pumping in a power failure.
For more information about standby power, and to find an authorized generator dealer in your area, visit KohlerGenerators.com.
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