Inventory Protection: How to Protect Products From Damage

Inventory protection becomes a front-and-center concern when hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods are in the forecast. These weather events can rip through buildings, flood storage areas, and turn loose items into dangerous projectiles. Keeping your merchandise and inventory safe under these circumstances is a challenge no business owner can ignore. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warns that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. Inventory protection in the face of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, is a crucial element of any business plan. Structural design, technology, and emergency logistics are important aspects of this preparation.

If you’re concerned about protecting your business’s inventory from severe weather, we’re here to help. Join us as we review basic merchandise protection methods and advanced strategies for specific cases of extreme weather.

Strategies for Business Inventory Protection

Protecting your inventory from natural disasters begins with preemptive planning and proactive measures. If you have advance warning of such an event, there are steps you can take to minimize potential losses. 

Let’s review these basic strategies in detail:

• Move Inventory to a Safer Location: If a severe storm or hurricane is on the horizon, consider moving your merchandise to a safer location. This can be a warehouse in a different geographic location or an elevated area less susceptible to flooding.
• Using Sandbags and Other Tools: Sandbags are effective at stopping water from entering your premises. For best results, stack them tightly against vulnerable windows, doors, and other entry points. In addition to sandbags, consider using water dams and flood barriers.
• Re-packing and Palletizing: Storing products on pallets keeps them off the ground, reducing the risk of water damage. This also minimizes the chance of products literally flying off shelves if your windows break and wind enters the area.
• Wrapping: Using industrial plastic wrap around your products can prevent moisture from seeping into your merchandise. This will keep devastating mold and mildew at bay.
• Boarding Windows: If possible, board up your store or warehouse’s windows to reduce damage from high winds and flying projectiles.

Out of all these steps, temporarily storing your goods away from the path of destruction is the most effective. This is easier to accomplish by leveraging technology to stay informed about potentially damaging storms.

The Role of Technology in Preventing Damage to Inventory

Some severe weather systems, such as hurricanes, can be tracked days in advance. This offers time for alert and informed businesses to safeguard their merchandise. For events like flash floods and tornadoes, even a few minutes or hours worth of warning can make a huge difference for business owners.

If you live in an area subject to extreme weather conditions, the following tech-based solutions should be part of your toolkit.

• Weather Monitoring Systems: These systems provide detailed weather forecasts, including warnings for extreme weather conditions. This information is invaluable for making last-minute adjustments to your protection strategies.
• Automated Alerts for Emergency Conditions: Modern technology allows businesses to set up automated alerts that can send notifications about impending severe weather conditions to your phone. These timely alerts can let you take quick actions to safeguard your inventory.

There are hundreds of weather notification apps available for smartphones. Make sure you have one handy, along with a weather radio, to stay up to date on the most current weather news. 

The Power of Preparation: Hurricane and Storm Safeguarding Techniques

Preparation is key to protecting inventory from damaging weather. While the previously mentioned strategies are effective, the design and condition of your warehouse or place of business plays a huge role in how well your goods can withstand extreme conditions.

To get a more in-depth look at how a building’s structural stability impacts protection of merchandise, we’ll examine three common types of natural disasters: hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes.

Inventory Protection During Storms: What Makes a Building Hurricane-Proof?

With gusts that can exceed 250 MPH, hurricanes are one of the most potent and dangerous natural disasters in the world. If you’re located in an area vulnerable to these dangerous storms, such as the southern U.S. or Atlantic seaboard, hurricane-proofing your establishment is crucial. Otherwise, years of work can be swept away in a matter of hours.

There are many methods you can employ to minimize a location’s vulnerability to hurricanes. Most of these involve using sturdy, specialized materials to build or reinforce your place of business. 

Before detailing these methods, let’s take a look at what one of these powerful storms can do.

How Are Warehouses and Stores Vulnerable During Hurricanes?

Even category one hurricanes and tropical storms can cause significant damage due to how long they can last. Sustained winds can bring down limbs, trees, and power lines. These hazards can easily damage your business and, by extension, your inventory.

Other damaging effects associated with severe storms and hurricanes include:

• Wind Speed and Projectiles: High-speed winds can convert even everyday objects into dangerous projectiles. Anything not securely anchored can become a liability.
• Structural Vulnerabilities: Weaknesses such as non-reinforced windows, doors, and roofs can easily give way under the pressure of strong winds.
• Secondary Disasters: Proximity to rivers, lakes, or oceans increases the risk of flooding during hurricanes. Additionally, it’s common for hurricanes to spawn tornadoes, which can cause plenty of damage in their own right.

Fortunately, using the right construction materials and methods can mitigate damage caused by hurricanes.

Key Features of a Hurricane-Proof Building

Before we discuss how to prevent hurricane damage, we must address the term “hurricane proof”. This is something of a misnomer. While a building can be made to resist the forces of a cyclone, it would be inaccurate to classify any structure as 100-percent immune to hurricane damage. 

With that said, choosing a storefront that’s built to resist sustained wind and rain is still your first line of defense in protecting your inventory. Look for features such as:

• Reinforced Concrete and Steel Structure: A strong frame is the backbone of any hurricane-resistant building. Such materials can withstand not only the force of strong winds, but also flying debris. This is a must if there’s any risk of damage caused by falling limbs or trees.
• Hurricane-Resistant Windows: These are specially manufactured to be wind resistant and impact resistant, preventing shattering or breakage that could expose the interior. They consist of laminated glass panels with a polymer material in between, which resists shattering.
• Secure Roofing and Anchoring Systems: Anchored roofs are less likely to get torn off by high winds. Special tie-downs can secure the roof to the walls and foundation, providing extra resistance.

If your building does not contain any of these features, some of them can be retrofitted onto the structure. Consult with a construction professional to determine the extent to which you can upgrade your existing place of business for improved hurricane resistance.

Want more protection? Check out our article on hurricane cargo insurance to learn more about how you can protect your precious inventory. 

How to Prevent Flood Damage to Your Inventory

If you live in an area susceptible to flooding, you know how quickly a flood can occur. While not as dramatic as the powerful winds generated by hurricanes and tornadoes, floods can easily destroy a store’s inventory. Even items that aren’t directly affected by the standing water can be ruined by resulting mold and mildew.

To keep your merchandise safe from flooding, it’s wise to start with the right kind of building design and infrastructure.

Flood-Resistant Design and Infrastructure

Since floods can come seemingly out of nowhere, it’s unlikely you’ll have time to react and protect your inventory. For that reason, it’s important for your store or warehouse to have the following features.

• Elevated Construction: If possible, elevate your building or at least the inventory storage areas. After all, water doesn’t run uphill. This simple measure is a highly effective way to prevent floodwater from reaching your goods. 
• Sump Pumps: This device is installed in the lowest point in a given structure, such as a basement. It automatically triggers when the sump area is flooded, pumping flood water out and away to a drainage area.
• Proper Drainage Systems: A well-designed drainage system will direct rainwater away from your place of business.

With these three elements of flood-resistant building design in place, your inventory will be well-defended against flooding.

Tornado-Proof Buildings: Facts and Figures

Like hurricanes, tornadoes generate high-speed winds that can do significant structural damage. Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes occur without several days notice. They can descend, destroy entire towns, and dissipate within minutes. 

To illustrate the economic impact of this meteorological disaster, consider the five most damaging tornadoes on record in the U.S.

The USA’s Five Most Damaging Tornadoes

If your place of business experiences weather that can spawn tornadoes, it’s vital to be aware of their potential for destruction and what you can do to keep your inventory from becoming a property damage statistic.

Vulnerabilities During a Tornado

Tornadoes are violent and unpredictable, often striking with little warning. Understanding the potential vulnerabilities your warehouse or store may have during a tornado is the first step toward reducing damage.

Three potential dangers during a tornado are:

• Roof Lifting and Structural Collapse: With wind speeds that can exceed 300 mph, tornadoes can easily cause structural collapse. They’re also capable of pulling roofs directly off buildings through sheer force of wind, which is obviously bad news for any unprotected merchandise.
• Flying Debris: In a tornado, the wind speed is so high that harmless objects can become damaging to you and your business. Even sand and small particles can effectively become free-range sand blasting medium, scouring painted surfaces. 
• The ‘Missile Effect’: Think about what’s around your property: loose bricks, wooden pallets, even large garbage bins can all become hazards in a tornado. When caught in tornado-force winds, these objects become high-speed projectiles. The missile effect is particularly dangerous because these objects can puncture walls or shatter secure windows, damaging or destroying your inventory. 

With a clear understanding of these dangers, the next step is taking action to ensure the safety of your inventory and the people who manage it.

Tornado Proof Windows and Other Building Features

When you think about making a building tornado-resistant, windows and structural design come into play. Here’s what you need to know:

• Reinforced Walls and Secure Roof Designs: Built with materials like reinforced concrete or steel, these walls can withstand the pressure. Similarly, roofs should be designed to stay put. The more securely a roof is attached to the walls, the less likely it is to fly off. Simple tie-down systems can make a big difference here.
• Safe Zones within the Warehouse/Store: Some areas are safer than others during a tornado. Windowless rooms are particularly ideal for storing goods during a twister, since wind and debris can’t affect them easily. If you can, store your most valuable inventory in these zones.
• Tornado-Proof Windows: In the section on hurricanes, we discussed shatter-resistant windows made of dual-pane, laminated glass. These same windows equally ideal for preventing tornado damage. 

The good news is that if your building is made to withstand tornadoes, it’s probably just as resistant to hurricanes. Concrete, steel, and shatterproof glass will all go a long way toward protecting your merchandise and avoiding financial losses.

Contingency Planning: How a 3PL Can Help During a Disaster

Even with excellent preparation, businesses can struggle in the wake of a disaster. For instance, losing power can cause some stored goods to spoil if they aren’t relocated. That’s why it’s smart to partner with a Third Part Logistics (3PL) provider for assistance once extreme weather has passed.

There are many advantages to working with a 3PL, including:

• Rapid Response: In the wake of a natural disaster, time is of the essence. A 3PL service can mobilize quickly, getting essential goods where they’re needed most.
• Warehousing Solutions: Your own storage facilities may be damaged or inaccessible. A 3PL can provide temporary warehousing to secure and protect your merchandise.
• Supply Chain Redundancy: If one part of the supply chain is disrupted, 3PLs can help reroute goods through alternative channels, ensuring steady operations.
• Specialized Equipment: From refrigerated trucks for perishables to heavy-load transporters for machinery, a 3PL has specialized equipment for any logistics need.
• Expert Consultation: Not sure how to navigate the logistical challenges post-disaster? A 3PL can offer expert advice on best practices for supply chain management in crisis scenarios.
• Scalability: Whether it’s a localized event affecting one store or a large-scale disaster impacting an entire region, a 3PL can scale its services to meet your specific needs.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing that a professional logistics service is managing the complexities of post-disaster supply chain gives you the mental space to focus on other critical areas of your business.

When a disaster strikes, you might need to quickly pivot your logistics and inventory management strategies. With a little help from us, you’ll be able to do just that.

Why Choose Emergency Management Logistics for Your Inventory Protection Needs?

While extreme weather can be unavoidable, proper preparation will set you up to protect your business and its inventory. At Emergency Management Logistics, we offer a comprehensive range of services to help you respond to extreme weather events.

Trust EML for assistance with:

• Disaster relief
• Medical crisis management
• Time-Critical Logistics
• And more

Call our emergency logistics experts at (855) 420-9447 today or request a risk-free quote online. We’re ready to help you and your business ride out the storm.