Survive & Thrive: Prepare Your Small Business for a Natural Disaster (Part 1)

9/24/2019 (Permalink)

Having an emergency response plan in place before a natural disaster hits can help your business survive the damage & thrive afterward.

You have worked hard to build and maintain your business. But it could all be jeopardized if a natural disaster—flood, hurricane, fire, blizzard—damages your property, puts your employees at risk and knocks your company out of action for days or weeks.

You can’t stop the disaster from heading your way, but you can do specific preparation that will help your business carry on. Start your emergency response planning by evaluating the potential for damage.

1. What Are the Risks?

Which natural disasters are most likely to hit your area: tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods? Which risk is the greatest? Identify the most imminent weather threat and start planning for that, then work your way down the list.

2. What Do the Experts Say?

Do your research by visiting reputable sources such as Ready.gov, FEMA and the American Red Cross. The Red Cross’s Ready Rating program offers free online disaster preparedness planning, and some of their chapters also provide free CPR and first-aid training for small businesses.

3. How Might Your Business Be Impacted?

Begin your planning with a business impact analysis (BIA). The BIA will help you create and refine plans for emergency response, crisis communications and business continuity. Explore the potential effect a disaster could have on your business, including lost or delayed sales and income or increased expenses from repairs. You’ll want to take into account your existing customer communication, inventory management and record-keeping practices.

Next: Developing the Disaster Recovery Plan

Now that you have finished this research and analysis process, you are ready to dig in and develop a thorough set of plans to put into place if a natural disaster hits your business. Your plans will cover these areas:

• Emergency response
• Communications
• Data management
• Business continuity

Read Part 2 of this series for tips on creating and implementing these essential plans in the event of a fire, flood or storm disaster.

If your business is hit by a natural disaster, like a flood, wind storm or wildfire, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785

Help Is Here

The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your commercial building and property after a natural disaster. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785.

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how to protect your home and business from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm and other damage.

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If your business is hit by a natural disaster, like a flood, wind storm or wildfire, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785