Many people think of June as “getting closer to summer month,” but we mustn’t forget that with June also comes hurricane season! Prestige Food Trucks, the world’s leader food truck manufacturer, would like to share a few tips to help your food truck business have a safe season. The 2014 hurricane season is predicted to be below average, so although we should expect mild storms, we can’t forget that it only takes one hurricane to put you out of business for good.
1. Know your dates:
Hurricane season officially lasts from June 1 to November 30, so make sure to develop, organize and test your business emergency plan ahead of time.
2. Be informed:
Stay tuned for official announcements regarding imminent hurricanes and always follow authorities’ directions. Since storms can be very unpredictable, you will only know if it’s recommended to evacuate or stay put by listening to the latest news. Setting up an RSS to receive alerts from the National Hurricane Center website, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/, is an easy and smart way to stay informed!
3. Have a business plan:
It’s one thing to evacuate in your 4-door car and go stay at a friend’s house. It’s a whole other thing to expect your friends to accommodate a 20-foot truck on their property. It’s important to have a business plan to ensure you don’t lose money while “taking shelter.” If possible, try to take your truck to a safe, pre-selected location to keep it operational. If you depend on local employees or vendors, you will need to consult with them to work out a plan that is feasible for everybody.
4. Know your state regulations:
Nobody wants to see profits fall, but let’s not forget that SAFETY comes first. All food truck businesses are required by OSHA to provide a safe working environment for its employees. So, if you can’t operate in safe conditions, don’t. Disobeying federal or state regulations can lead to long-term issues such as having your license revoked or having to face a lawsuit.
5. Know your insurance:
Do you have liability, auto and workers compensation insurance? Do you understand your policy and how to activate it when needed? All of this should be known before hurricane season starts.
6. Give back:
If a disaster occurs, you are at a great position to help as soon as conditions allow. Helping the people in your community is not only the right ting to do, but also a great public relations campaign waiting to happen.
About Prestige Food Trucks
Prestige Food Trucks is the world’s leading custom food truck, vending trailer and specialty vehicle builder / manufacturer. Prestige is based out of Orlando, Florida, but they ship nationwide and internationally. Prestige Food Truck also offers repairs, financing, rental options and food trucks for sale as is or fully customized to fit the needs of our clients.
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