Brand New 30,600 Square Foot Waterfront Warehouse for Lease in East Tampa
By Erika Matscherz
T
he Dikman Company broke ground in March on its 30,600 square foot spec building located right on the Bypass Canal in Tampa East Industrial Park on Massaro Boulevard.
We are very excited to offer an industrial building “on the water” with waterfront office space! The project is turn key with office occupancy late July 2018.
The 24-foot clear height building will have both dock high loading and a grade level overhead door with three-phase power and will include high bay LED lights. The industrial market in Tampa is tight – there is very little available and when properties come on the market, they don’t last long.
Please let us know if you know of someone looking to move or someone who may need to expand — we would love to talk with them about this exciting project.
June is the Start of Hurricane Season. Is your Business Ready?
Businesses in hurricane prone locations need to have a preparedness plan ready every year.
Thanks to Hurricane Irma, the 2018 hurricane season is probably more on our minds this year than in years past. With that being said, the best way to handle potential hurricane weather is to develop a written preparedness plan — a basic “to do” list in the event a disaster strikes.
Businesses are the key to economic stability in any community. Planning for a hurricane ahead of time can save a business owner thousands of dollars in lost revenue due to structural damage, building content damage, interruption of business operations and employee displacement. Yet many still do not have an effective disaster plan in place to ensure business continuity.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
Create a Plan — One of the best defenses against the devastation of a hurricane is preparation. The first thing you should do is to sit down with your team and establish a written hurricane procedures document for protecting business property and its contents. Your plan should include what measures are necessary before, during and after a storm. It is important to take into consideration the steps your business must take to return to normal operation. Specify a timeline for when the stated procedures will be implemented. Think about creating a staffing policy. Identify essential employees and which of them will be in charge of implementing the identified procedures and if any, will remain on call during the storm. Your employees have a lot on their minds too. Make sure you allow time for them to respond to their own family needs.
Establish Communication — With a hurricane, you should plan for complete disruption of communications. A shared phone line can help provide a common source for information, assistance and flexible response. This line should be placed on a network that won’t be impacted by the storm or flooding. It would be preferable if the line could be directed to an inland office that won’t be affected by the storm and can be answered by a designated employee. Communicate with employees – whether they evacuate, stay at home or are stationed at properties. Confirming their location and safety is a critical step.
Verify Insurance — Insurance is never a popular topic, but it is necessary when a disaster occurs. Every hurricane is different; for example, Hurricane Irma affected almost the entire state of Florida with significant wind and water damage. It is important to take time each year, well before a storm is brewing, and review all insurance policies with your insurance agent to discuss adequate coverage. One of the most common questions asked after a hurricane is, “are we covered for loss of income?” Each insurance policy is unique to the insured. Make sure you understand the specific terms and conditions that must be met to determine if coverage applies. Having a good relationship with an insurance agent that understands your business is very important.
Identify and Protect Vital Records and Assets — Advances in IT infrastructure and your company’s dependence on its availability have increased significantly over the years. Data storage, redundancy and consistent access to email are critical for employees to return to work. Make multiple backup files and store data in an alternate safe location. Cover major equipment with tarps in case of water intrusion. Many businesses are not as technology-savvy as others. If that is the case in your situation, make sure you protect records such as accounts receivable, customer records, tax documents and other personnel and administrative documents that may be stored on site in file cabinets.
Nothing can prepare you 100 percent for what you may face in the event of a hurricane. Each one is different in its impact. Remember, planning and preparation are major defenses against the devastation of a hurricane, and are the key to a speedy and successful recovery.
Draft a plan, let your employees know, and be ready!
FloridaDisaster.Org offers more information on hurricane preparedness including flood zones, evacuation zones and important emergency numbers specific to your location. Be sure to check out their webpage to assist with your planning.