Business Disaster Planning

Your business like your home needs to have disaster planning. How quickly your business can get back to normal may depend on 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