Your business like your home needs to have disaster planning. How quickly your business can get back to normal may depend on prior planning done before disaster strikes.
- Know what kinds of emergencies might affect your business.
- Know how your business functions.
- Review your business process flow chart, if one exists.
- Identify critical operations.
- Keep a list of suppliers and critical business contractors you might use in an emergency.
- Plan on what you would do if you cannot physically reach your place of business.
- Develop a plan so you and your employees can communicate before and after a disaster. Have an out of town telephone number so employees can leave a message that they are okay.
- Develop wallet cards for employees so they have quick access to important numbers.
- Stay alert to potential threats. Keep a NOAA Weather Radio in a location where it can be heard when your business is open.
- Keep duplicates of important records in a location away from the business site.
- Determine in advance, where and how you would shelter your employees and customers if you had to Shelter In Place.
- Provide training to your employees so they know what to do in a disaster. Practice your disaster plan.
- Plan ahead for utility disruptions.
- Prepare for a utility disruption.
- Determine in advance what equipment and documents needs to be secured in case of a disaster.
- Promote family and individual preparedness.
- Review your insurance coverage to insure that it is adequate to your needs.
Caring for Important Documents