Many tornadoes have the power to clear everything in its path without losing power for up to several hours. They can generate speeds of over 250 miles per hour, which can completely demolish even the most structurally-sound buildings. Disaster restoration services are essential to the aftermath of tornadoes, but you can reduce the impact by learning how to protect your building from tornado damage.

There is no surefire way of protecting any structure against tornado damage. However, if a commercial business is in a tornado-prone area, business owners have the responsibility to take measures to protect your buildings from tornado damage. This is important for reducing the risk of damage tornadoes can inflict on structures and on the lives and wellbeing of business employees.

You can help to protect your commercial building from tornado damage by implementing 4 key strategies. These strategies make up the acronym PUMA to help you remember them.

1. Protect: Protect your employees and your business’ assets. In addition to making sure you have proper insurance coverage, it is important to put emergency response strategies in place, run drills, and even consider constructing a safe room. Minimize structural risk by using only high wind-rate products and strengthening every and all structural connection point. Make sure you have contacted disaster restoration services to act in the case of an emergency.

2. Understand alerts: Warnings are always more serious than watches.

3. Minimize: Minimize the potential impact of flying debris by maintaining the grounds, trees, and surrounding powerlines and clearing them of loose pieces and debris.

4. Assess: be aware of the risk of a tornado hitting your area, and follow measures depending on your risk of a tornado.