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The Basics of Making a Disaster Plan for Your Business | SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County
1/11/2019 (Permalink)
Be able to roll with the punches by creating a natural disaster plan for your business.
With so many floods, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes and earthquakes in the news, Mother Nature is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. The key to being able to roll with the punches, so to speak, is to be prepared for the worst.
Preparing for worst-case scenarios involves creating a natural disaster plan for your business, which is why this blog will discuss aspects for consideration when working to design that plan.
There are many different factors to consider when working out a disaster plan for your business. Those considerations to include are:
- How to protect your employees
- How to secure your assets
- How to get business up and running again
Thankfully, emergency agencies like the Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov have developed many helpful checklists that can identify areas that need to be included in your natural disaster preparedness plan and also areas you may have overlooked.
If a disaster were to strike without warning, it is important that your human assets, employees and visitors, are protected by having a plan that lays out procedures and safety measures.
Make sure there are clearly marked evacuation routes and exits from your facility, consider installing emergency lights, have an area designated for use as a shelter, and have put together designated volunteer staff as “safety wardens” that are properly trained and ready to guide and assist with all emergency efforts.
When establishing shelter space, your first choice should be a basement or storm cellar in the event of tornadoes or other high-wind situations. If that type of space is not available, find a small interior room on the lowest level of the building, such as a closet or interior hallway.
For businesses located in brick and mortar buildings, there is still the necessity to make mindful choices about protecting the assets inside that building. Your business is at risk for losing thousands of dollars in merchandise and equipment when a natural disaster strikes.
Always be sure that there is a detailed and complete up-to-date inventory of these items, and, if possible, take photographs as they will be helpful if insurance claims are made. If your assets are based on a computer server, take the steps necessary to ensure that the backup system operates correctly and the storage system cannot be damaged.
If you own the building your business is in, talk with a contractor to uncover areas that may need structural improvement. The contractor can suggest possible safety upgrades and advise on areas that may not hold up in certain weather situations.
When a natural disaster does occur and your business location sustains damage, it is very likely that your business will have to be closed due to that damage and while repairs are being made. Every day you remain closed is another day of lost profits, so it is wise move to have a “rainy day” fund set aside to help with additional costs that your insurer may not cover.
Have a list of contractors available for you to call on that would be available for repairs and construction concerns, and know which cleanup and restoration service company that will be available to quickly respond to your emergency situation.
With SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County, you can count on us to get to the disaster faster and make it "Like it never even happened." Our training and expertise have prepared us to help with water damage, storm damage, fire damage and mold remediation quickly and effectively.
Knowing what to do when disaster strikes your business is of the utmost importance. When it comes to the cleanup and restoration aspects, depend on SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County to be there for you. Call us no matter the emergency, 24/7: 845-831-3600.