By NATARIO MCKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Chamber of Commerce's chief executive yesterday urged businesses to take "all precautions" to protect their assets ahead of Hurricane Irma, warning: "We can't take this storm for granted".

Edison Sumner told Tribune Business: "Given the experiences that we have had over the last two years with severe hurricanes, it's prudent for business to take all precautions in protecting their assets and ensuring that their staff are also given sufficient opportunity to make their own preparations. We cannot take this storm for granted. Even if it doesn't come directly this way we should prepared."

Mr Sumner also urged businesses to ensure they were adequately insured against catastrophes, and to take the necessary precautions to safeguard their properties.

"The day after the storm passes the business community should be able to mobilise as quickly as possible," said Mr Sumner. He urged companies to ensure their records are current and backed up, noting that many small and medium-sized firms have in the past been unable to produce proper records to show how their businesses were performing prior to a storm.

This subsequently impacted their ability to access emergency funding.

Rupert Roberts, Super Value's owner, told Tribune Business that pre-hurricane shopping had begun on Sunday, with persons stocking up on hurricane supplies. "For the most part people appear to be taking this thing very seriously," he said.

"They are coming in and getting the items that they need. On Sunday we sold out of water and had to replenish our stock. We're in a hectic period right now."Purity Bakery reported selling 30,000 loaves of bread yesterday.