Hurricane preparedness procedures for East Coast restaurant franchises

Hurricane Preparedness

XYZ Hamburger Havens

Since our restaurants are situated along the East Coast, every year some or our franchises run the risk of being in the path of a hurricane. These are your instructions for preparing your location for a hurricane. Please use these instructions to create a "Hurricane Preparations" notebook for easy reference if a hurricane should threaten your locale.

WHEN A STORM THREATENS

Every franchise will receive a weather channel radio, which will sound a warning signal when threatening weather approaches. Also monitor the local media -- TV, radio, and newspapers, for updates on storm tracks (Staff writers, 2004). Monitor newspapers, radio and TV for storm updates (Staff writers, 2004). You will also receive a prepaid cell phone. Give this phone number to all employees.

When a hurricane advisory is issued, take out your Hurricane Preparations notebook and review its contents with all assistant managers. Make up an assignment sheet of tasks for each shift.

If the advisory is upgraded to a hurricane warning, preparing the building for a hurricane becomes the priority. Assign two people to walk around the store and stow all potential obstacles inside the store. Use the CD burner to back up all store computer records, which you will take with you.

Go through the store files. Remove all personnel and payroll records along with any other records you deem crucial to returning to operation as soon as the threat of hurricane is gone. Put these files in a box clearly marked "emergency records" wrap the box in three layers of plastic, and store in the freezer. You may take the CD with you for safekeeping until you can return safely to the building.

Make sure all shutters are put up, and take emergency numbers with you. Give the phone number of the prepaid cell phone to all employees so they can call you and find out when to return to work.

When you return, if you smell any odor of gas, leave immediately without turning on any switches, flashlights or anything else that might cause a spark (NUI< DATE) and call the gas company. Do not allow anyone to enter the premises until the gas company has arrived.

Please send a photocopy of your compiled Hurricane Preparation notebook to the Maintenance Department at Headquarters so we can assure the safety of all.

SOURCES

NUI. DATE. "Hurricane Safety." City Gas Company Of Florida. Accessed via the Internet April 9, 2004. http://www.nui.com/content.cfm?cid=380

Staff writers. 2004. "Taking Care of Business." South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Accessed via the Internet April 9, 2004. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sns-hc-prep-business,0,5902211.story