FORT LAUDERDALE – The threat of hurricanes is never far from the minds of residents and property owners in Florida.

As we’ve seen in recent years, Florida is frequently in the bullseye of torrential storms that have the potential to destroy homes and disrupt businesses.

“Because of this constant concern, now is the time to plan and prepare for the upcoming hurricane season,” said Michael Loudis, CEO and co-founders of ProFi Facility Maintenance (www.profifm.com), , a one-stop shop for handling the needs of commercial facilities throughout Florida. Services include handyman, porter, pressure cleaning, street sweeping, and overall maintenance. “We are currently conducting audits of our clients’ properties to make sure that if a storm hits, we will be prepared. Precautions will be put in place that we hope will minimize damage and get our clients back in business as soon as possible.”
With offices in Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers, ProFi handles the maintenance of hundreds of clients in a wide range of industries, including retail, hospitality, industrial parks, office buildings, and others.

“The key is really being proactive rather than reactive,” said Patrick Cueva, COO and co-founder. “By preparing now, we are ready for the worst-case scenario of a direct hit. By taking the proper precautions well in advance of the storm season, our clients’ properties can remain safe and resume operations quickly and safely after the storm passes.”

ProFi creates a customized list of safeguards for each of its clients to give them the best chances of resuming business in a safe and secure environment.

“The safety of our clients is always front and center,” added Loudis. “We give them the best chances of having an operational location that is secure for returning to work.”

Among the pre-storm preparations are:
Testing the sealing on all doors and windows
Making sure shutters/plywood is easily accessible for quick installation
Having sufficient supplies of sand bags to line building perimeters
Making sure generators are operational in the event of power outages
Having plans to clear debris after storms
Scheduling regular landscape trimming to avoid damage caused by falling limbs and trees

This preparation is part of ProFi’s custom services which involve regular maintenance inspections, busy-season preparations, and scheduled safety audits.

“Our goal is to make sure our properties are running at peak efficiency,” said Cueva. “This translates into better business, attracting quality employees, and having a professional image.

“Making sure we’re ready for hurricanes is just part of our ongoing, standard service.”
In addition to the actual maintenance work, ProFi has put in place a wide range of operational systems including scheduling and communications.

“The systems we have in place give clients confidence that we’re always watching out for them,” said Cueva.
“This is particularly important as storms approach, giving us the ability to prepare properties for high winds, potential flooding, and other challenges associated with these situations.”
This attention to detail is standard for customers regardless of what Mother Nature may have in store for South Florida.

“We pride ourselves on professionalism,” said Loudis. “Our staff shows up in uniforms with the proper equipment. Our clients take pride in their places of business and appreciate our attention to detail when it comes to storm preparation, basic maintenance, and ongoing repairs.”