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With Spring in the air, the possibility of more severe weather is upon us. West Texas is a Tornado and severe rain and thunderstorm nightmare. Flooding can be common, coupled with the possibility of tornadoes and other problems, so knowing how to protect your building is a must.

Luckily, you’ve already hopefully completed the first step: having a steel building. Buildings will never be 100% resistant and impenetrable to every type of weather, but steel is the best material to combat even the most intense weather. Steel can survive in a myriad of natural disasters that other buildings fall easily too.

The best way to explain steel vs. weather is to look at a palm tree. Steel is tough but flexible. Palm trees are the same way; they bend into the wind causing the trees to not be impacted by the full effects of a storm. The steel acts similarly, flexing and moving slightly from external pressures, thus bending instead of breaking and then returning to its original position.

Outside of investing in steel, there are a few things you can do to ensure you and your building are as prepared as possible.

The first is to research. Measure twice and cut once, as the saying goes. Research your area to see what you may face at some point. People in the Panhandle won’t need to focus on hurricanes, just like people in New York won’t need to worry about volcanoes. Once you know what situations you may face in your area, you can move to the next step.

Next is to assess your building. Inspect your building for weaknesses that could have come from age, lack of upkeep, or other reasons. Find out where local bodies of water might be and where other hazards could be, such as heavy ongoing construction or any other assessment concerns.

Check where instructions are for the various natural disasters and severe weather that can happen. If your building is commercial, it will have the best escape routes and the “what to dos” in case of a fire, tornado, or another hazard. If it isn’t commercial, you may want to consider having plans in place for those scenarios.

After assessing your building, surrounding area, and common local situations, it’s time to assess all questions that came up in the assessment. For instance, invest in shatterproof windows if your area has a very high rate of shattered windows due to severe weather.

If your building is commercial, and power outages can be frequent, make sure you have a backup generator to keep your building running. Some of these things seem very simple but can often be overlooked. Take the time to think about potential things that can happen, and ask yourself if your building and yourself are ready. Stay informed and protect your investment.