Do This Immediately After Commercial Property Damage

This may not come as a surprise but deer do not favor online shopping. Instead, they overwhelmingly prefer retail locations. They excitedly burst into cellphone stores, big box establishments and car dealerships – even Christmas stores in December, presumably to pick up last-minute gifts. Bank lobbies are particularly popular deer destinations. Perhaps enterprising herd members require fast cash to fuel sprees. 

All joking aside, wildlife inflict significant commercial property damage including smashed building materials, ruined merchandise and disrupted commerce. They leave biological residue, too – blood, fur and feces – that requires thorough disinfecting treatments. But no matter the source, commercial property damage is frequent and expensive.

“What should you do after your commercial property is damaged?” asks Leslie Anderson, Senior Vice President of Training & Launch at Paul Davis Restoration. “Start your response right away. Our helpful roadmap guides next steps immediately after an incident.” 

Safeguard your property, bolster insurance processes and speed restoration by taking these smart actions: 

• Consider damage scenarios. Damage usually occurs unexpectedly – nights, weekends, holidays – and most often, results from severe weather, fires and floods. Sometimes commercial properties confront surprising challenges. Awareness as well as routine maintenance and inspections may prevent costly property damage.
• Ensure safety. Immediately evacuate – or do not enter – the premises if conditions are dangerous. Call local emergency responders if necessary to assist. 
• Advise key company stakeholders. Reach out to owners and tenants as well as suppliers and customers if appropriate to advise them of the damage and disruption. 
• Contact key personnel. Call your insurance carrier to report the incident and review coverage. File a report with local law enforcement if applicable. 
• Document damage. If you can safely do so, video and photograph the damaged areas with a device that time stamps the imagery. 
• Contact your mitigation and restoration company. It’s best to form a relationship with a restoration partner before damage strikes. This partner rapidly provides on-site inspections; license verification and proof of liability insurance, third-party ratings and recent references; written cleanup and remediation plans and schedules; and payment processing arrangements. 
• Assist responders. Answer questions, notify responders of key assets, facility layout and onsite hazards that they may encounter during their response. 
• Secure the site. Board up damaged areas to prevent unauthorized access, theft and vandalism. Your chosen restoration partner leads this step.
• Prevent secondary damage. Most insurance companies require that you take reasonable actions to protect against further damage such as weather exposure. Your chosen restoration partner leads this step.
• Begin business continuity. Convene your management team to plan next steps, assign communications responsibilities and coordinate immediate needs.

“We recommend two more steps to improve your commercial property ownership and management,” Anderson concludes. “Bolster site security and create an emergency response plan. Our experts will work with you to develop the plan.”