The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1; the Pacific hurricane season for the eastern Pacific basin began May 15. Both run through November 30. Wildfire season in the west and southwest runs from the first big wildfire to the last, typically in the summer and fall and lasting about 7 months. If you are within these areas, make preparations now if you haven’t yet done so. If you’re not in these zones, prepare anyway for a disaster…a disaster could happen to you. The following is adapted from a previous blog.
Make a disaster preparedness plan
As former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli said, “prepare for the worst but hope for the best.” So, make a plan that includes steps to take before, during, and after a catastrophic event. You can’t plan for every contingency, but you can plan for some contingencies likely to occur if there’s a disaster. Identify the disasters most likely to occur in your area besides hurricanes and wildfires mentioned earlier: earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Be sure to consider:
- Safety of your employees
- Protecting your equipment, inventory, and facilities
- Protecting your data, including tax information
Resource: Start with a disaster recovery plan template to get an idea of the points you want to address. You can then customize the template for your business needs. Some options:
- Disaster Recovery Plan Template
- EMC Insurance has an emergency action plan (click on emergency action plan)
- Ready.gov’s Emergency Response Plan
Check your insurance coverage
Will your current policy provide the protection you think you have? Talk with your insurance agent now. The current coverage may need to be increased or expanded. You may need additional coverage, such as flood insurance or a business disruption/continuation policy.
Resource: Find information about insurance coverage from the Insurance Information Institute.
Get supply chain backup
Supply chain issues, while better than at the end of the pandemic, continue to persist. They could become even very problematic in a disaster. Even if you aren’t directly affected, your supplier may be impacted. Be sure to develop relationships with multiple suppliers, not only for improving day-to-day operations, but also to continue running smoothly in case of a disaster.
Know who to contact
Be sure to have your contact list updated to reflect everyone you’d need to talk to in case of a disaster. In addition to family and friends, be sure to have in your contact list:
- Your employees or the employee(s) designated to reach out to your entire staff. Calling or texting may be a quick way to reach everyone to provide instructions for their action and to check on their safety.
- Your insurance agent. Also have the insurance company’s contact information in case your agent has suffered the same disaster as you. Keep your policy number with your contact information.
- FEMA. This federal agency provides guidance in obtaining disaster assistance. Contact information: [email protected] (for general questions about assistance) or 800-621-3362.
- SBA. This federal agency provides direct loans following disaster declarations for your area to help cover the cost of repairs or replacement of physical assets damaged in the event and/or funding to cover operating costs after the disaster. Contact information: [email protected] or 800-629-2955.
- Trades and repair people. Keep telephone numbers of roofers, electricians, plumbers, etc. who might be needed following a disaster.
- Other help. Likely you already have certain pros who help you with your business activities (accountant, IT specialist). Just check to ensure you have up-to-date contact information.
Final thought
Because preparedness should be a year-round endeavor, the ideas for readying your business for a potential catastrophic event aren’t new. Nonetheless, it’s worth reviewing because so many small business owners simply don’t prepare. FedEx reported that a whopping 72% of small businesses didn’t have a disaster plan, yet having a plan improved recovery by 30%. Take the time to make a plan…it will pay off if you become a disaster victim.
Here you’ll find additional blogs concerning disaster preparedness and your business.
