Is Your Facility Typhoon-Ready? Pre-Season Preparedness Tips for Coastal Businesses
Key Takeaways
- Early preparation reduces disaster response times: Identifying structural vulnerabilities and implementing safeguards before storm season begins can significantly reduce operational disruptions.
- Backup systems need regular checks: Power and drainage systems should be tested and maintained regularly to ensure functionality during severe weather events.
- Clear protocols improve staff readiness: Well-defined emergency plans, practised ahead of time, help teams respond quickly and safely when a storm approaches.
- Protecting data and equipment aids recovery: Maintaining up-to-date asset inventories and offsite data backups streamlines insurance claims and speeds up the recovery process.
Introduction
In Asia’s coastal environment, typhoon season poses significant risks to commercial and industrial operations. Intense wind, tropical storm surges, and localised flooding can result in structural damage, extended downtime, and safety hazards for personnel. These disruptions can affect not only physical assets but also supply chains, service delivery, and compliance obligations. In additional, there is a surge in demand for spare parts of electrical components after the typhoon hits, resulting in prolonged business disruptions.
Effective preparation goes beyond basic weatherproofing. It involves identifying operational vulnerabilities, reinforcing critical systems, and ensuring continuity plans are in place. Facilities that act early are better positioned to minimise disruption and recover more efficiently after severe weather events.
This article outlines practical steps businesses can take to strengthen their typhoon protection strategy ahead of the season.
Have You Identified Where Your Facility Is Most at Risk?
Typhoon impact varies widely depending on a facility’s location, elevation, and layout. Sites situated along the coast or in low-lying zones are particularly vulnerable to flooding and wind-driven damage. Analysing how previous storms have affected your premises can highlight exposure points, such as ground-level entrances, basements, drainage or rooftop installations.
To strengthen typhoon protection, consider installing water pumps in flood-prone areas to facilitate rapid removal of ingress water. Drains should have a check valve (one-way valve) where necessary to block storm surges, and access doors must be reinforced. Additional safeguards may be needed in areas such as internal car parks, and service basements to minimise the risk of significant water intrusion.
Are Your Roofs, Openings, and External Fixtures Built to Withstand Storms?
During a typhoon, unsecured structures and equipment can become serious hazards. High winds can dislodge roofing panels, signage, light fixtures, or outdoor storage units, creating risks for both people and property.
All external access points, particularly doors and windows, should be appropriately sealed and reinforced. Roofs must be structurally stable, especially if they support equipment such as HVAC systems or solar installations. Perimeter fencing, mounted systems, and other exposed components should also be assessed for wind resistance. Failure in any of these areas can lead to cascading safety incidents, extended downtime, and costly repairs.
Can Your Power and Drainage Systems Withstand a Major Storm?
Power disruptions are a frequent consequence of severe weather, and overwhelmed drainage systems can significantly increase the risk of internal flooding. To support effective typhoon protection, critical backup infrastructure must be tested and maintained before the onset of the season.
Generators should be fuelled, tested, and ready to operate under load. Sump pumps, battery backups, and related equipment also require inspection for reliability. Just as importantly, assess the site’s external drainage. Drains must be clear to manage heavy rainfall but should also be sealable to prevent backflow when floodwaters rise.
Proactive checks reduce the likelihood of major water ingress and, in turn, the need for extensive flood remediation once the storm has passed.
Are Your Emergency Protocols Clear, Current, and Actionable?
A documented plan is only effective if your team understands how to implement it. Emergency procedures should be reviewed regularly, with clear roles assigned, evacuation routes confirmed, and a communication chain in place for both pre-storm alerts and post-impact updates.
Emergency kits should include first-aid supplies, lighting, power banks, portable water and non-perishable food. Facilities should also prepare for the possibility of on-site sheltering if access to external support is delayed. As part of your overall typhoon protection strategy, ensure shutdown procedures for critical systems are clearly defined and can be executed quickly to reduce risk.
Have You Safeguarded Your Critical Assets and Data?
As typhoon season approaches, businesses should document essential assets, machinery, servers, production lines, and control systems, along with photographs and serial numbers, to support insurance claims and recovery efforts.
Ensure that all vital data is backed up and stored offsite or in a secure cloud environment. Delays in access to configurations or operational files can hinder recovery timelines. If key equipment is housed in basements or low-lying areas, consult with flooded basement cleanup companies ahead of time. After the water subsides, mould proliferation may start, professional commercial mould remediation specialists may also be necessary to prevent the proliferation of mould and subsequent health risks.
Preparation Is the Best Form of Protection
In countries located in high-risk areas, typhoon protection is a critical part of any Business Continuity Plan. Proactive measures, such as identifying site vulnerabilities, reinforcing systems, and updating emergency protocols, can reduce the impact of severe weather and support a faster recovery.
BELFOR helps businesses manage the aftermath of storms with comprehensive post-disaster recovery services, addressing water and wind damage. If your facility requires a more robust response strategy ahead of typhoon season, we offer solutions designed to help you address the damage to your property.
