Hurricane Preparedness For Tourism-Facing Businesses
As a valued part of Corpus Christi’s tourism community, your business plays a critical role in ensuring visitor safety and comfort during hurricane season. This resource hub is designed specifically for local, visitor-facing businesses—from hotels and attractions to restaurants and tour operators—to help you stay proactive, prepared, and responsive before, during, and after a natural disaster. In the event of a hurricane, your ability to disseminate timely, accurate, and reassuring information not only protects guests—it strengthens our community’s resilience and reputation.
Below you’ll find tools, best practices, and guidance to help your team create or refine a hurricane preparedness plan, ensure continuity of operations, and communicate clearly with both visitors and employees when it matters most.
FAQ: Hurricane Preparedness for Tourism Businesses
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Start by creating a Business Emergency Operations Plan that covers staff roles, guest safety protocols, communication strategies, and continuity of operations. Ensure all emergency contacts, evacuation routes, and local shelter information are current and easily accessible. Secure outdoor property, backup critical data, test emergency power systems, and maintain a 72-hour supply of essentials.
Why this matters: FEMA and Ready.gov emphasize that advance planning significantly reduces risks to employees, visitors, and business assets. Having protocols in place before a storm develops gives you a head start when timing is critical.
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Use clear, calm, and proactive messaging to notify guests of current conditions, what actions you're taking for their safety, and where to access official updates (e.g., National Weather Service, city emergency management). Post notices in high-traffic areas, including social media, provide verbal updates, and ensure messages are available in multiple channels if possible.
Why this matters: According to the U.S. Travel Association and FEMA, transparent and timely communication builds trust and reduces panic. Visitor-facing messaging should emphasize preparedness over fear, while guiding guests through safe behavior.
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An evacuation order requires everyone in the specified area to leave immediately for safety reasons—usually issued by local or state officials. Shelter-in-place, on the other hand, means staying indoors where you are, preferably in an interior room without windows, until it is safe to move.
Why this matters: Misunderstanding these terms can lead to unsafe behavior. Businesses should monitor local emergency management updates and clearly explain the required action to guests.
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Offer flexible policies and prioritize customer safety. Consider waiving fees, allowing credit toward future stays, or partnering with other lodging providers if capacity becomes an issue. Be clear and empathetic in your messaging.
Why this matters: The American Hotel & Lodging Association and many major hospitality brands recommend lenient cancellation policies during declared emergencies. This helps protect your brand reputation and encourages future bookings despite disruptions.
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Rely on trusted, official sources:
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Corpus Christi Emergency Management Office: https://www.cctexas.com/departments/fire-department/emergency-management
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National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov
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Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM): https://tdem.texas.gov
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Local news and weather alerts (TV, radio, NOAA Weather Radio)
Why this matters: Disinformation during storms spreads fast. Businesses must communicate verified facts to visitors and avoid sharing unconfirmed updates.
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Have a post-storm response plan in place that includes:
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Contacting insurance providers
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Documenting damage with photos/videos
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Coordinating with local utility providers
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Communicating closure or reopening plans with staff and guests
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Providing updated contact information if systems are offline
Why this matters: A clear damage response process minimizes downtime and improves customer trust. FEMA recommends assigning recovery roles to team members in advance.
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Answer:
Ensure staff are informed, trained, and supported:-
Share personal preparedness plans with them
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Offer on-site accommodations or assistance if needed
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Provide clear internal communication before and after the storm
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Recognize their commitment and prioritize their safety in any planning
Why this matters: Your staff are your frontline communicators. Supporting them through a storm fosters loyalty and allows them to better serve guests.
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Best Practices Checklist: Hurricane Preparedness for Tourism-Facing Businesses
This section helps your business stay operational, communicate confidently with guests, and recover quickly after a storm. We’ve grouped the checklist into three key phases: Before the Storm, During the Storm, and After the Storm.
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Action Item
Status
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Designate a Hurricane Coordinator responsible for managing your emergency response plan.
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Develop a written Emergency Operations Plan that includes evacuation protocols, shelter-in-place procedures, and guest communication guidance.
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Maintain an up-to-date contact directory for staff, emergency services, local DMO (Visit Corpus Christi), vendors, and utility providers.
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Ensure employee preparedness training includes hurricane safety, guest communication protocol, and role responsibilities.
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Conduct a risk assessment of your physical space (windows, signage, outdoor assets, critical systems) and take steps to mitigate vulnerabilities.
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Create and test a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that outlines how to operate remotely, secure data backups, and maintain payroll/communications.
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Review insurance policies to confirm coverage for natural disasters and business interruption.
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Stock emergency kits with flashlights, batteries, first aid, radios, sanitation supplies, and a 72-hour supply of food and water.
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Prepare printed guest communications (signage and flyers) for use in case of internet or power outage.
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Establish relationships with nearby partner properties in case of relocation or overflow needs.
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Action Item
Status
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Monitor official alerts from NOAA, National Hurricane Center, and local emergency management.
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Provide timely, clear updates to guests using signage, text/email alerts, and face-to-face communications where possible.
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Advise guests of safe shelter locations within the property or direct them to city-designated shelters if evacuations are ordered.
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Keep staff informed and safe by rotating shifts and allowing remote or off-site sheltering where possible.
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Document key decisions and communications for accountability and post-storm review.
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Avoid disseminating any unofficial or unverified information to staff or visitors.
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Action Item
Status
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Conduct a safety inspection of the premises with licensed professionals before reopening.
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Document all damages with photos/videos and begin insurance claims promptly.
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Inform guests and staff of reopening status, operational changes, or service disruptions via email, social media, and website.
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Provide wellness checks and emotional support resources for staff who may have experienced trauma or loss.
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Submit a post-event report summarizing lessons learned, gaps in readiness, and updates needed to the emergency plan.
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Reconnect with Visit Corpus Christi for destination-wide messaging coordination.
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SOURCE: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/ready_business_hurricane-toolkit.pdf
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Keep Visit Corpus Christi Informed of Operational Changes
In the event of a hurricane or severe weather event, it’s vital that we maintain clear communication across our tourism network to ensure accurate and timely information is shared with visitors, travel advisors, and the public.
If your business experiences any changes in operating hours, closures, relocations, staffing availability, or safety measures, please notify Visit Corpus Christi by submitting the form below. This allows us to:
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Update our destination-wide status reports and alerts
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Provide real-time updates to visitors seeking assistance
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Coordinate community messaging across media and tourism channels
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Connect partners to local resources, if needed
The information provided on this page is intended solely as a resource and guidance tool for tourism-facing businesses in the Corpus Christi area. All content, including checklists, messaging templates, and best practices, is for informational purposes and should be implemented at the discretion of each individual business.
Businesses are encouraged to adapt these suggestions to align with their own internal policies, legal obligations, insurance requirements, and operational needs. Visit Corpus Christi does not assume responsibility for any decisions made based on the materials provided herein, nor does it replace official guidance from government agencies or emergency management authorities.
For more official hurricane preparedness guidance, please consult sources such as: