Storm Prep Checklist for Commercial Properties in the Carolinas

Before the storm: establish safe responsibilities

Review official alerts and decide who will communicate property updates, authorize work, and coordinate access. Keep emergency contacts and the property's relevant access information available to the people responsible. Identify areas staff should not enter if conditions worsen. A preparation list should make decisions clearer; it should not encourage someone to remain on the property when authorities direct evacuation or other protective action.

Review unresolved maintenance concerns that could matter in bad weather, such as damaged doors, known drainage obstructions, or loose exterior items. Keep the observation and proposed work separate so the owner can authorize an appropriate response. Do not create a false sense of certainty by assuming that temporary protection will prevent every leak or that a building is safe simply because a checklist has been completed.

• Follow official alerts and local emergency instructions.
• Identify who can authorize work and communicate updates.
• Keep relevant contacts and access information available.
• Review unresolved drainage and opening concerns.

Review drains, trench drains, and gutters

From safe ground, observe drains and the areas feeding them. Leaves, litter, dunnage, and other debris can collect around entrances, loading bays, and low points. Record visible obstructions and discuss clearing with the appropriate crew. Note where standing water has previously been observed without assuming you have identified the complete drainage problem. A blocked opening and a wider drainage issue may need different work.

Gutters and elevated drainage components should be assessed with suitable equipment and qualified help. Do not send a manager onto a roof to finish a visual checklist. Keep loading and pedestrian routes in mind when arranging drainage work. If water is already moving across access areas or collecting near electrical equipment, avoid the area and seek an appropriate response instead of attempting a routine cleanup.

• Look for leaves and debris at drains and trench drains.
• Record low points near entrances and loading bays.
• Observe gutter condition from a safe position.
• Arrange appropriate help for elevated or uncertain drainage work.

Secure loose items and assess vulnerable openings

Identify outdoor furniture, stored materials, pallets, and other loose items that could move in wind or obstruct access. Decide which items can be moved or secured safely within the property plan. Do not improvise attachments to building components that may not be designed for that use. Maintain clear exit paths and avoid placing stored material where it could block drainage or access for emergency assistance.

Review exposed windows, damaged doors, and other vulnerable entry points with the owner and a suitable professional. Board-up materials and temporary protection should be matched to the opening and installed appropriately, not treated as a universal solution. 1st Point provides 24/7 emergency service to all customers, including securing property and doors, board-ups, tarping, and temporary repairs. Discuss the condition and work needed instead of assuming every opening should receive the same treatment.

• Identify loose furniture, pallets, and exterior clutter.
• Keep exits, pedestrian routes, and drains unobstructed.
• Record damaged doors and vulnerable windows.
• Discuss suitable board-up materials and temporary protection.

Plan flood barriers and photo documentation

Water diverters and sandbag barriers can be part of a site-specific preparation plan around entrances, risers, and equipment. Their placement needs to consider how water moves and where it may be redirected. Do not block an exit or create another hazard in an effort to protect one area. Ask the crew to assess the location and explain the proposed arrangement before authorizing deployment.

Take pre-event photos only where access is safe. Record exposed openings, drainage areas, and the condition of any agreed temporary protection. Keep images organized by location and avoid including private material. Photos can help describe changes after weather, but they do not establish the cause of every defect or replace an inspection. Retain work notes and approvals alongside them so the record shows what was actually arranged.

• Discuss barriers for entrances, risers, and equipment.
• Consider where diverted water could go.
• Keep emergency exits clear of barrier materials.
• Photograph conditions and approved protection from safe locations.

During the storm: prioritize people and communication

Follow official directions and the property's safety arrangements. Do not inspect roofs, exposed openings, flooded loading bays, or unstable exterior materials while conditions are dangerous. Avoid standing water near electrical equipment and do not handle wet electrical fixtures. If there is immediate danger to people, contact emergency services rather than treating the situation as an ordinary maintenance request.

Communicate observations that can be made safely without asking staff to enter affected areas for additional photos. Note the location and visible condition, and keep the distinction between confirmed observations and reports from others. Property protection work should be considered only when conditions permit safe access. A clear description is more useful than an instruction to repair something that no one has safely assessed.

After the storm: assess, stabilize, and agree on repairs

Return to affected areas only when access is safe and permitted. Look for damaged doors, exposed openings, debris, and standing water from a safe position. Treat unknown conditions cautiously; do not assume that a dry-looking surface or functioning light proves an area is safe. Water extraction, debris removal, and securing openings may be needed, but the scope should follow an appropriate assessment of the situation.

1st Point Services provides 24/7 emergency service to all customers for water mitigation and extraction, urgent debris removal, securing doors and openings, and flood barrier deployment. When you call, describe the condition and the crew confirms a response window. Permanent repairs receive an upfront estimate and a documented follow-up plan. Record temporary measures and unresolved items so stabilization is not confused with a completed permanent repair.

After immediate concerns are addressed, use the quarterly walkthrough checklist to organize remaining observations and the Facility Maintenance Guide to consider recurring upkeep. Keep weather preparation, emergency stabilization, and permanent repair approvals connected in the property record. That gives owners and managers a practical basis for the next decision without relying on an invented response promise or assuming a single visit covers every issue.

• Confirm safe access before inspection or cleanup.
• Describe water, debris, and damaged openings clearly.
• Arrange appropriate extraction, removal, or securing work.
• Approve permanent repairs separately from temporary stabilization.