For most of the community, being prepared for a disaster
means having an adequate supply of bottled water, batteries and canned goods on
hand. But for the thousands of small business owners, preparing for the
possibility of a disaster is a complex and daunting task. Most business owners
are unsure of even where to start. Unfortunately, those that are most prepared
are often those that have suffered a tremendous loss and had to rebuild.
The West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce, in
support of National Preparedness Month, has prepared some information and tips
to help business owners weather the storm.
Develop a Preparedness Plan
A good plan will address several key areas: physical safety,
protection of assets, and reestablishment of services. In order to protect the
physical safety of both personnel and patrons, you must have and post an
updated evacuation plan. This plan should be inclusive and address any possible
disabilities and restrictions. All organizations should also have a
shelter-in-place plan. Personnel should be trained and knowledgeable so that
they can assist any patrons or visitors in the case of an emergency.
Proper protection of assets is essential in determining a
business’s ability of bounce back from a disaster. First and foremost, consult
your insurance agent annually to update records and determine if your coverage
is still adequate. Secondly, back up all financial records and store them
offsite. Your CPA will gladly maintain an electronic backup of your records,
but documentation and day-to-day registers should also be properly protected.
There are many options, from as simple as a home-office safe to an electronic
cloud storage system. Determine what is right for the size of your business,
but be consistent and diligent.
After a disaster, quick and effective reestablishment of
services is vital for the wellbeing of your business and often your community.
Determine beforehand how you will communicate with both employees and the
public. Plan for contingencies and receive additional training if avenues such
as social media are outside your comfort. Assign roles to personnel when
appropriate, allowing for individual expertise to assist in the process.
Make Hazard Mitigation a Priority
Many times when considering disasters and planning, we think
about natural disasters that impact the entire community. Fortunately tornados,
hurricanes and wildfires are not faced regularly. But hazards that require
planning and preparation are much broader and unfortunately much more frequent
than we often consider. Electrical fires, ruptures of pipes or even vandalism
are all examples of disasters that any business could face – each resulting in
shutdown and lost revenue.
A large part of being prepared is being proactive. Keep
electrical and mechanical components in good repair. Ensure that all
installations or repairs are performed by qualified technicians. Conduct
regular physical inspections of your business and require employees to report
any concerns immediately. All of these efforts will work to decrease the impact
of these confined disasters, reducing your financial loss.
Implement
A plan is only effective if it is implemented. Each year,
set aside time to work with staff on safety hazards and disaster responses.
Since September is National Preparedness Month, make it your month to focus on
updating home and business disaster plans, meeting with your CPA and insurance
agent, and scheduling maintenance inspections. Reprint and post new evacuation
and shelter-in-place plans.
Lastly, remember - p
reparation,
planning and implementation are the tools for success of any business! To learn more tips about preparedness in your home or
business, please visit
www.ready.gov.
