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Prepare Your Commercial Property for Tornado Season

Prepare Your Commercial Property for Tornado Season

Sam Simon

May 31, 2018

The US is in the throes of tornado season, but Dorothy and Toto and their fellow Kansan's aren’t the only ones who need to worry!

Tornadoes take a toll on many US states, especially in the Midwest. With all the rain Chicago’s been weathering this spring, we at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons know many people probably aren’t thinking of tornadoes as the real threat.  However, NOAA data revealed that Midwestern tornadoes in March 2017 cost $2.1 billion in damages alone!

Don’t let your property contribute to these statistics.  Commercial business owners should take the necessary steps to protect their business from tornado woes.  Here are a few tips from our professionals to help keep your commercial property safe during storm season:

  1. 1. If your company has outdoor fixtures (like satellites, garden statues, signs, etc.), make sure they are secured.  Otherwise, they might be at risk for going airborne in the event of a tornado. If your company regularly showcases or displays products outside, ensure you have space indoors for them in case a tornado warning is issued.  
  2. 2. Reinforce weak parts of your building with extra support to help your infrastructure stand up against tornadoes.  
  3. 3. Make sure important equipment, electronics, and servers are kept in a secure area.
  4. 4. Whenever undergoing construction, always use high wind-rated products.
  5. 5. Determine communication flows to enhance productivity in the face of an emergency.
  6. 6. Create a contingency plan for how your business operations will continue even in the aftermath of building damage.
  7. 7. Determine how you might restore any lost data or create back-up storage systems.
  8. 8. Make sure you have insurance coverage- not just for natural disasters like tornadoes, but also for contingent business interruptions in case you have to temporarily slow or shut down operations.
  9. 9. Make sure you always monitor the weather and heed emergency warnings.
  10. 10. Last, it’s important that you know the safest areas in your building where employees can take shelter in the event of a tornado. It’s also helpful to give everyone a designated emergency role and to periodically run shelter in place drills.

Sometimes all the preparation in the world still isn’t enough to mitigate a tornado’s fury. But while you may not be able to wish away tornado damage with three clicks of your heels, you can always contact the professionals at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons at 773-376-1110 for your disaster restoration needs. We are standing by for all your restoration-related questions and concerns!

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is a MBE/WBE certified minority and women-owned and family run company serving Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, and the North Shore. The business provides disaster restoration services for damages caused by tornadoes, water, fire, flooding, mold remediation, and a wide range of interior specialty cleaning (hoarder/clutter, post construction, carpet & upholstery) to residential and commercial customers residing in Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest and the North Shore. For more information, give us a call at 773-376-1110 or visit servicemasterbysimons.com.

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Sam Simon

Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.

He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.

Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.

In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.

Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
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Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.

Under the direction of majority owner and President & CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:

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