Creating an Emergency Disaster Plan for Your Business
Disasters are disasters due to the unexpected nature of them. Preparedness is proving that many things labeled as disasters are incidents that businesses can quickly recover from. Earthquakes in the western states have pushed for the development of infrastructure that can withstand even the big quakes. East Coast hurricanes now have modern buildings that can withstand the winds and storm surges. Creating a disaster plan for your business can mean the difference between thriving and failure during both natural and man-made emergencies.
Employee Disaster Safety
Nothing beats training for disasters common to your geographical region. Hire experts to train employees on what to do for both natural and man-made disasters that are a probability for where your business is located. Advanced first-aid and CPR training should be included. Create detailed protocols for what to do for everything from shutting down equipment to taking shelter on site. Make a personal disaster safety kit the responsibility of each employee to keep at desks or in lockers. Encourage them to carry a similar safety kit in their vehicles for the daily commute by providing them as gifts.
Business Disaster Safety
Be sure the office, warehouse, manufacturing or other workplace facility is up to code for the region. Tornado zones have different needs than flood and hurricane zones. Wildfire areas and coastal areas vary in building code requirements as well. Develop protocols and technological methods of maintaining communication with key personnel during any foreseeable disaster. Maintain diligence in off-site record backups of both digital and hard copy data that is critical to the function of your business. Keep adequate insurance to cover losses, including insurance to cover time lost during disaster shutdowns and recovery.
Consider Other Potential Disaster Scenarios
Suppliers and vendors that provide your business with everything it needs for retail sales or materials to function in business may experience a disaster that cuts off your business from what it needs to maintain operations. It can be anything from retail goods to fuel. Always have a backup or contingency plan to maintain operations even if your traditional supply lines and vendors are shutdown due to disaster. Be careful that your backup suppliers and vendors are not located in the same geographical region to minimize them also being affected by a regional disaster.
There is a lot to think about in disaster planning for any business. There is no single plan that can be applied to every business. Each business has unique needs, situations and disaster risks. Assessment of risks along with appropriate planning in advance on how to respond is unique to each business. Also, the plans, protocols, equipment and training are dynamic and need to adapt as the business and risks change over time.
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