By KATIE BRENNEMAN
It is an unfortunate fact that approximately 40% of businesses fail to reopen after a disaster and the worst part is that many of these shortcomings could be averted with some smart preparation. The fact is that the world is constantly changing, and with weather phenomena seemingly becoming more extreme all of the time, your business could be at risk of disaster regardless of where you are located around the country.
While management cannot stop a natural disaster from occurring, you can do your part to analyze the risks and create a plan for how to keep your employees and your assets as safe as possible. Let’s talk a bit about prep for natural disasters and what you can do today to mitigate the damage.
Understanding And Preventing Risks
In order to preserve as much of your business as possible after a disaster, you need to be prepared. That means taking the time to study your area, find out what types of natural disasters are likely to occur via a business risk assessment, and then create a plan of action for every scenario. This is often referred to as a disaster recovery plan, and it should discuss in detail what exactly needs to happen in the case of an emergency and who within your organization is responsible for every step.
For instance, many companies ask for a volunteer within their company to be a “chief fire warden” who would take the lead in the case of a fire. That might mean that they plan the escape routes and ensure that your business is equipped with the proper safety equipment. They will also likely be the last one out of the building to ensure that everyone escaped safely. The point is that you need to assign particular employees to predetermined tasks so that there isn’t chaos during an emergency.
Part of your risk assessment will be to research common issues that can cause disasters so you can prevent them from occurring in the first place. For example, many office fires start because kitchen equipment is left unattended, or electronics are not unplugged when not in use. You can try your best to eliminate the chance of a fire in this regard by putting out a policy to the employees that states how to properly manage their belongings and cookware to prevent a fire. It is also not a bad idea to bring in an outside expert who can review your office from top to bottom and inform you of potential risks so you can make the proper fixes.
Protect The Employees
While you likely have a lot of expensive equipment and irreplaceable files in your office, the top priority always needs to be your employees. For most events, you will want to have an evacuation plan in place. In the case of a fire, your employees should be made aware of all emergency exits, and they should be provided with the best and safest route to get there quickly. Clear signage should be put in place, so there is no confusion if a fire does break out.
Your plan for any evacuation should also include a designated assembly point where all employees gather once they exit the building. You do not want workers spreading out in all directions because it is much more difficult to ensure that everyone is safe and accounted for.
Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, caused by rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges, and overflows. In this circumstance, a good flood recovery plan for your business will include steps for proper evacuation as well as the creation of a disaster supply kit. This kit should include medical supplies like bandages as well as enough food and water to feed the staff should they become stranded in the building for a prolonged period.
Employees should also be educated on how to stay safe from the dangers that can occur during a water emergency, such as the risk of electrocution, the dangerous contaminants of floodwater, and the dangers of driving in a flooded area. Ensure that the staff understands these threats before the flood happens, so they are prepared.
Protect Your Data and Equipment
Your proactive natural disaster measures and recovery plan should also include the steps you can take to avoid unnecessary damage to your corporate files and equipment. A good start is to ensure that you are protected by the necessary insurance coverage. The damage that occurs due to natural disasters is not always covered in your standard policy, so you may need extra coverage if your location is prone to floods or earthquakes. This step is essential so you can file a claim and get the money you need to rebuild your business.
It is also essential that you are proactive in saving the corporate and customer data that you have saved within your organization so you can recover that information after the disaster. The best way to do this is to make it a habit to constantly move your data to backup servers. That backup should either be on a separate server, or it should be on the cloud that you can access from anywhere. This is a step that you absolutely cannot forget, or your data could be lost forever if your only server is destroyed.
If your company has a program or system that needs to be continuously powered on, such as a server or a certain piece of machinery, then you will need to have a plan in place in case the power goes out. Look into options to keep that system going, like a generator or an uninterruptible power supply, so you can be confident that you will be able to pick up where you left off once it is safe to return to the office.
As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when it comes to saving your business during a natural disaster. Make it your next priority to create a risk assessment to protect your business, and you will mitigate the damage if the unthinkable does occur.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KATIE BRENNEMAN
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, education, and fitness-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Brenneman, you can follow her on Twitter.
