Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting a higher likelihood of an above-normal hurricane season in 2017 and perhaps the most active season since 2010.

NOAA forecasters are predicting 14-19 named storms; 2-5 major hurricanes; and 5-9 hurricanes — saying a 60-percent chance of an above-normal season exists, according to the most recent news release from NOAA, which was issued in mid-August. An average Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1-Nov. 30, produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.

“[The] outlook underscores the need for everyone to know their true vulnerabilities to storms and storm surge,” said FEMA Administrator Brock Long in the NOAA news release. “As we enter the height of hurricane season, it’s important for everyone to know who issues evacuation orders in their community, heed the warnings, update their insurance and have a preparedness plan.”

Such warnings obviously cannot be ignored by businesses needing to protect their properties and ensure business continuity in the wake of such storms. As such, you can rely on risk management technology to be of help.

The right risk management technology will offer automated “alerts,” designed to assist risk, safety and emergency planning professionals with business continuity planning and emergency management by monitoring different event types; matching events to an organization’s locations or properties; and triggering workflows that set important action or emergency plans into action.

Risk management technology “alerts” use geocoding technology to pinpoint information specific to an organization’s business – like properties, locations, key vendors, means of transport, key personnel or any other location important to a business. The system matches the event location with any properties and/or vendors that may be in close proximity to an event type, such as a tropical storm.

Some of the more specific features offered through “alert” functionality within risk management technology include:

  • The ability to easily identify vendors near the path of destruction and automatically activate necessary contingency plans if needed
  • Automatic notifications via e-mail to appropriate individuals like affected vendors
  • Easy access to relevant property values and policy information
  • The ability to track updated event news within the Chatter feed as the situation progresses to keep authorized users up to date.
  • Simple metrics on each vendor, which help immediately estimate an organization’s maximum potential loss if their supply chain is interrupted

Don’t leave your business to chance in the wake of a potentially busy storm season. Learn how risk management technology not only alerts you of such events, but can also help you minimize losses from storms and other associated risks.