Disaster Preparedness Tips for Businesses
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by Leah Napoliello, Editor
With the recent floods and hail storms impacting the greater Houston area, unfortunately, many local homeowners now have a firsthand experience in dealing with disaster recovery and also an enhanced knowledge for how to prepare for these types of disasters in the future.
As always, our area is vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes during this time of year, and in addition to securing your homes and making the necessary preparations, it is also imperative for your business to plan in advance for any potential disasters.
BBB recommends businesses consult the following list to ensure your business is prepared for the next major storm:
Verify and obtain insurance to protect your business and property. Check your current insurance to make sure it will protect your business in the case of a disaster, which may include floods, hurricanes, or even fires. If you are not insured in an important area, obtain coverage now before disaster hits.
Develop an emergency contact list for employees for notifications. In the aftermath of a disaster, many people may be without power or have difficulty getting in touch with others for updates. Your office should a develop a method for contacting employees due to office closures or any other issues and inform staff of what the procedure is in advance. In developing this plan, you should determine who is responsible for communicating decisions regarding office closures to employees and how the employee will receive this information (via phone and/or email). You may considering designating a remote number employees can call to receive a recorded update on the business' status.
Ensure that company data and property is protected. All important data should be backed up on a server since even a power outage could erase important information stored on individual compters. In addition, businesses should inventory all property, equipment, etc. prior to a disaster. If any damage occurs, this inventory list will assist in the insurance claims process.
Create a communications plan to inform your clients of the disaster. Make sure your key clients are aware of your business' status after a disaster occurs, including how long it will need to be closed, if it is operating with a skeleton crew during the recovery time, and when it plans to reopen again.
Have an emergency kit available for staff. Ensure your business has a first aid kit for staff and also encourage staff with medical needs to always bring their necessary medication, etc. Keep extra supplies in your office such as a flashlight with batteries and other tools, as needed. Your office should also have water and basic snacks or foods available for staff.
Though preparation activities may vary, the most important thing is to have a plan from the outset, so everyone can feel safe, secure, and protected when disaster strikes. On a final note, if your business needs repairs after a disaster, we advise you check with the BBB at BBBHouston.org or BBBSouthTexas.org.
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