Risk Engineering Services

Windstorm Preparedness amidst COVID-19

The 2021 Pacific typhoon season begins in May and is anticipated to be an active one, complicating
the fight against the current pandemic. COVID-19 will present an additional challenge, impeding
emergency response efforts, as windstorm preparedness tasks may conflict with quarantine andcontagion prevention requirements.
To help prepare for the 2021 typhoon season, this guide offers useful advice and reminders to deal withtoday‘s challenges ‒ whether your property is currently idled, or otherwise just resuming operations.

2021 Pacific typhoon season: pandemic
compounds natural hazards

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis is limiting theresources to prepare for severe windstorms.

Windstorm Preparedness – What you can do Now!
̤̤ Closely monitor the weather forecasts to quickly anticipate next actions to take.
̤̤ Review and adapt all your Emergency and Natural Hazards Preparedness,Response, and Recovery Plans for the current pandemic conditions.
̤̤ Update the contact information of your employees, vendors, and contractors
involved in windstorm preparedness and recovery tasks.
̤̤ Contact and confirm availability of essential employees and contractors needed
for the key actions and tasks of the windstorm preparedness plan.
̤̤ Review your inventory of materials and equipment needed for windstorm
preparedness and recovery tasks, such as storm shutters, plywood, etc., and ordermaterials now because shortages in supplies are expected.
̤̤ Confirm availability and needs for fuel and other resources needed for youroperations; be cautious of storing these additional resources or fuel on site as theypotentially create protection challenges.

Preparedness considerations during a pandemic
̤̤ Closely follow the directives from local authorities to determine when you canrestart operations and what restrictions apply to your site and employees.
̤̤ Consider conducting a re-layout of the work stations and common areas at yourworkplace to maintain safe distancing.
̤̤ Remember that mass transportation options for your employees will be limited.
̤̤ Personnel, materials, and resources for preparedness tasks will be limited.
̤̤ Ensure adequate stock of cleaning materials and personal protection equipment
such as face masks, gowning, hair and shoe covers, and gloves.
̤̤ Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequencies of surfaces at your workplace.
̤̤ Alcohol-based cleaning and sanitizing fluids should be stored in a separate andprotected, non-combustible space or UL listed flammable liquids cabinet.
̤̤ Provide contact barriers such as glazing or transparent plastic panels in areas
where there is frequent contact with the public.

The following is a summary of the preparedness, response, and recovery plans and guides developed
by Swiss Re Corporate Solutions that should be revised and adapted for this challenging
COVID-19 pandemic time. These plans and guides are available and can be downloaded in our portal
at CorporateSolutions.SwissRe.com/Insights/Knowledge
Windstorm Preparedness Plan
Review, update and adapt the main
sections of your plan:

Idle and Vacant Properties
If your property has been idle please
adapt the main sections of this guide:

Restarting Operations Guide
Planning to resume operations after beenidle, adapt the main sections of this guide:Pre-season Preparation
̤̤ Inspect roof cover, flashing and drains
̤̤ Inspection and protection of external
walls, openings, windows and doors
̤̤ Inspect and test backup power supply
and connected equipment
̤̤ Check/replenish preparedness,recovery, and cleaning supplies
̤̤ Review business continuity plan

Keep Fire Protection Systems Active
̤̤ Maintain sprinkler systems active
̤̤ 24/7 alarm monitoring̤̤ Inspect, test, and maintain equipment
̤̤ Lock control valves

Changes since previous operation
̤̤ Identify changes and reassess the risks

In-season Preparedness
̤̤ Monitor the weather and storm
forecasts
̤̤ Monitor the stock of consumables
̤̤ Reduce the stock of in-transitmaterials/products
Storm approaching̤̤ Re-test backup power supplyequipment̤̤ Test dewatering and sump pumps
̤̤ Remove debris around the facility̤̤ Secure roof-mounted and outdoor
equipment̤̤ Protect your data backups
̤̤ Reduce stock level as much as
possible and elevate materials andproducts above floor level
After the storm̤̤ Anticipate and plan for accessibility
challenges
̤̤ Assess the impact and document
damages̤̤ Immediately initiate recovery plan

Unnecessary Combustible Loading
̤̤ Eliminate or reduce combustible
materials stored indoors and outdoors
Ignition Sources̤̤ Restrict hot work and smoking
̤̤ Isolate all non-essential utilities suchas electricity and gas

Staff and Resources
̤̤ Check personnel availability
Supply Chain readiness̤̤ Check key suppliers are available andaware of your requirement
Machinery
̤̤ Check inspection/maintenanceroutines to OEM guidelines, consider
what is needed prior to re-start
Ignition Sources
̤̤ Enforce hot work policy
̤̤ Ensure electrical system andequipment are in good condition

Contractor Management
̤̤ Close supervision of contractors
Security̤̤ Secure the perimeter and points ofaccess̤̤ Increase security measures

Fire Protection
̤̤ Ensure fire protection systems andspecial protection systems are inservice

Burglar Alarms & Watch Service
̤̤ Provide intrusion detection sensors
̤̤ Monitor alarms remotely

Emergency Response̤̤ Check pre-fire and emergency
response plans are still accurate

Inspections
̤̤ Conduct regular inspections of thebuilding and perimeter

Housekeeping
̤̤ Ensure all areas are tidy and clear ofexcess combustibles

Access Control
̤̤ Log access and escort visitors

Access and Security
̤̤ Ensure adequate security
arrangements are in place

Local Authorities
̤̤ Inform local police and fire
department when the property
becomes unoccupiedHeat
̤̤ Be mindful of potential freezing
temperatures during the latter part of
the typhoon seasonDetection and Alarm̤̤ Provide detection systems in areas
not provided with automatic
sprinklers

Swiss Re CatNet® ‒ offers a range of proprietary geo risk tools.
Windstorm, Flood and other natural hazards exposure profiles for any
location worldwide are available through Swiss Re’s CatNet® online
natural perils tool.
Use the following link to register: SwissRe.com/CatNet
Useful Links & Resources
Asia PacificJapan Meteorological Agency ‒ www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html
Hong Kong Observatory ‒ www.hko.gov.hk/en/index.html
Bureau of Meteorology Australia ‒ www.bom.gov.au/cyclone
Meteorological Service Singapore ‒ www.weather.gov.sg/
China Meteorological Administration ‒ http://www.cma.gov.cn

Contact yourSwiss Re Corporate Solutions
Risk Engineer, Account Engineer
or representative for additional
information or assistance with
developing your Windstorm
Preparedness and Response Plan.

This checklist is intended as a guide to property loss prevention and to aid in preparing for a windstorm event. This document should not be regarded as a standard
and should not be referenced as supporting material in the event of a loss. Please do not distribute without permission from Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Ltd andits subsidiaries and affiliates. Under no circumstances shall Swiss Re or its Group companies be liable for any loss or damage resulting from use of this document.
© 2021 Swiss Re. All rights reserved.

corporatesolutions.swissre.com