5 Steps to Protect Your Business Against Civil Unrest and Riots
Recent studies show that political risk and violence rank as the eighth-largest worry for companies globally in 2024, up from 10th in 2023 and 13th in 2022. This steadily increasing concern is well-placed, as the costs from U.S. riots during the 2020 election year reached $1-$2 billion in insurance claims.
Retail companies in particular are vulnerable to impacts by violent riots. Damage to physical structures and storefronts can not only sidetrack a company’s current operations, they can threaten its long-term viability. What can a business do to protect their physical assets against potential damage from violent riots? Below are 5 steps to ensure your company can weather civil unrest your community may experience.
1. Install protective glass.
If you want to strengthen the most vulnerable element of your store front, start with your windows and glass doors. Look for a solution that can withstand items like sledgehammers, bricks, and bats that are commonly used by looters to enter a building. Options include unbreakable glass, ballistic glass, and security glass. One of the most innovative solutions available is Riot Glass from RGS, a clear shield with an anchored frame that is installed over the tops of existing doors and windows and has a 100% success rate against break-ins.
2. Stock up on hardware and tools.
If you wait until you — and the rest of your community — need reinforcement materials, you may find it very difficult to find what you need. Supplies run short and prices are driven up as a result of increased demand. If you haven’t yet reinforced your glass, you’ll need plenty of plywood or masonite to create shutters or paneling for your windows and doors. Be sure to keep any materials purchased in a secure location as these items may become hot commodities if civil unrest is imminent. You’ll also need a drill and screws to complete the task or, better yet, have a local contractor in your phone contacts who can do the installation for you.
3. Ensure security cameras are vandal-proof
When hardening your business against rioters and looters, don’t overlook your security cameras. Ensure that the casings are tamper-proof and made of a material that can withstand impact. Mount them in out-of-reach locations, like on the roof, on a high ceiling, or up a tall wall (this also increases your camera’s field of view). Make sure you are using security camera mounting hardware, and not just improvised adhesives that could easily fail or be destroyed.
4. Remove dangerous items from your premises
Rioters and looters often take advantage of improvised materials to create tools of destruction. Walk your property with the mindset of someone with ill intent and remove or secure anything that could be used against your business, including flammable items. Secure and lock your dumpsters, and ensure you have fire extinguishers and water hoses with spray nozzles in case of small fires.
5. Don’t “Wait and See”
If signs are pointing to imminent danger, do not wait too long to take action. Prioritize the safety of your staff and merchandise by removing them from the scene as preemptively as possible. Do not allow employees to stay overnight to guard your property; invest in an armed security guard if you feel that level of protection is necessary. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and civil unrest can quickly and unexpectedly escalate without giving you much time to respond.
Proactive steps can improve your chances of surviving a civil unrest incident with as little damage to your property as possible. By taking action now, you are strengthening your business for uncertainty in the years to come.
If you are a Pharmacist Mutual Group member, you are eligible to receive our free Civil Unrest & Riot Prep Toolkit, which includes additional steps to harden your business property, along with numerous other resources. Request your copy at RiskMgmt@Phmic.comcreate new email.
Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group is a nationally recognized leader providing insurance and risk management within industries including pharmacy, healthcare, and more. This information is intended to provide general information only on certain risk management topics, and is not intended to provide any coverage determinations or coverage positions, nor is it to be construed as providing legal, medical, or professional advice of any form whatsoever. Learn more about how we help our members mitigate their risks.