Be Prepared – Natural Disasters Present a Real Threat to Businesses

Recent earthquakes through out the world have reinforced the need for businesses to be prepared for any type of disaster.  We have already seen, flooding, and wind damage inSouthern California.  So what can you do to help ensure your business is prepared?

1.  Develop Plans for Resuming Your Business – maintain a comprehensive business continuity plan.  Look at those natural hazards you consider to be most likely to encounter based upon your location.  How will it impact your customers?  Consider what your response will be before, during and after the event.

2.  Address your natural hazard exposures –  How likely is it that your business will be impacted by a flood, earthquake or wildfire?  For more information, visit the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety website at disastersaftey.org.  Establish a strategy that your business can follow when responding to disaster.

3.  Preparation – You will need to develop a policy, plan and the development of your plans.   Evaluate the facility and operations to determine what existing protection features will address the indentified exposures.  Determine whether a building will survive a natural disaster or other weather-related event.

Stock necessary materials to support the response and recovery plan.  Having emergency supplies can prove very useful during an emergency.

4.  Response – These plans should include step to take as an event approaches, as well as during the event.  The following is important to consider:

•  Be familiar with all of the available evacuation routes in your area
• Account for all employees after the evacuation
• Keep emergency equipment in working order
• Use battery operated equipment or have a backup generator for communication equipment.
• Practice your emergency response procedures and plans

5.  Recovery –  Recovery efforts can take many forms: it can include salvage, such as damaged materials from undamaged materials, and getting the valued stock into a protected area.  It can involve stabilizing and securing structures.  It can include restoring damaged sprinkler systems.  It is important to understand that protecting the physical assets of your business us only part of the issue.  Protecting business relationships may be an ever bigger challenge for some companies.  Consider the following:

• Develop arrangements in advance with critical suppliers
• Maintain a stock of critical forms and supplies in a safe area.
• Communicate to your customers that you are in business, or if you are temporarily out of business, the length of time before you return.
• Updating your employee/supplier/customer list frequently.
• Materials you will need to support the recovery should be on hand wherever practical.

These are just some items to consider when creating a recovery plan.  Remember, natural disasters can occur anytime, anyplace.  You can not control when they will happen, but you can take the necessary steps to prepare your response ahead of time should a natural disaster strike your business.  Chances are the preparations you make will translate into better protection for your business, its assets and your employees.