Experts are warning about a very busy hurricane season this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting 7 to 11 hurricanes and of those, three to six are projected to be major storms.

Hurricane season typically begins June 1 and concludes at the end of November but we’ve already seen our share of tornadoes, talk of rare derecho wind and flash flooding in metro areas across the US. Given the extreme forecast, it’s time to look around and make sure you’re prepared if the forecasters turn out to be right.

The pcAmerica staff has a few questions that will get you started:

Does your staff know what to do? Personnel who are prepared ahead of time can help safeguard their companies in the event of a catastrophic event. Hurricane Sandy shut down businesses along the East Coast, cutting off email and phone communications, along with the power. Don’t count on being able to communicate with staff during the storm—prepare everyone ahead of time so they can continue to work as normally as possible, even if your office is shut down.

Is your data safe? Backup computer records regularly and store important data in an offsite location. Compile a list of personnel with high-level security clearance, access to bank accounts, passwords, databases and systems in case of emergency.

What about your physical office? Office equipment is expensive; so take care to protect it in the event of a blackout, flood or other weather event. If needed, have plans in place about how and where you would relocate pricey electronics. In case of flooding, take items off the floor and turn off all equipment. Before plugging it back in, check for water in the outlets.