Icicles hanging from a brown pipe. Frozen water and metal surface, winter time concept. selective focus shallow depth of field photo

What should you do if a pipe freezes?

January 16, 2019

Earlier we discussed how to keep your pipes from freezing, but sometimes pipes freeze despite preventative measures. It’s vital to quickly get the water flowing through the pipe again—otherwise, the pipe will burst and damage your facility. Here’s how to …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

Frozen water shut off handle in snowstorm

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

Emergency exit of the building with fire exit sign and fire alarm

Be prepared for wildfires

December 7, 2018

California’s latest deadly, costly wildfires have increased awareness about them. However, what you might not know is you don’t have to be near a forest to be in danger. Wildfires can just as easily burn their way through urban areas, …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

"Hurricane evacuation route road sign on Sanibel Island, Florida.My Personal Collections:"

Emergency Preparedness, Part Two: Evacuation Plan

July 25, 2018

July is emergency month at Vanguard. As hurricane season approaches, our goal is to help you prepare your facility for any and all emergencies that may come your way. We recently covered how to develop an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

installing a 17 day whole house emergency generator for hurricane season. rr

How to prepare for an oncoming hurricane

July 20, 2018

Know your hurricanes Many of your pre-storm decisions will depend on the kind of hurricane that is approaching your facility. Therefore, it’s important to know the details of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, which you can find on the National Oceanic …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

Jacksonville, FL, USA - September 11, 2017; Flood waters engulf a parking garage in downtown Jacksonville, FL after Hurricane Irma took an unexpected turn and caused massive power outages and coastal flooding around the state.

How to quickly and safely recover from a hurricane

July 11, 2018

July is emergency month at Vanguard, and our goal is to help you prepare your facility for any and all emergencies that may come your way.   Hurricanes can be destructive, not only for what damage they can do during …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

"Hurricane evacuation route road sign on Sanibel Island, Florida.My Personal Collections:"

Creating an Emergency Action Plan

July 5, 2018

July is emergency month at Vanguard, and our goal is to help you prepare your facility for any and all emergencies that may come your way, including hurricanes.   According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, every …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

Snowy landscape with warning sign and copy space

How to winterize your facility

November 15, 2017

As the line goes, “winter is coming”. Here’s how to get your facility ready for the challenges that winter can bring, including cold temperatures, ice, snow and winter storms. A little preparation can help you get through winter with as …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

Paper with words BCP Business Continuity Plan

Stay open for business even when disaster strikes

September 13, 2017

We have run several articles on how to prepare for various disasters, including hurricanes, active shooters, tornadoes and more. But one thing we haven’t covered in detail, which is key for properly recovering from the effects of any disaster, is …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness

High angle shot of a mature businessman giving a presentation in the boardroom

An ounce of pre-mortem is worth a pound of post

August 16, 2017

In a crisis, your brain doesn’t work properly. Your hippocampus, which is responsible for processing memories, hits the stress button and releases cortisol into your system. It then shuts down until there is enough of the chemical circulating in your …

Categorized: Disaster Preparedness