How Would Your Business Handle a Natural Disaster? (Part 1)

4/10/2020 (Permalink)

Disasters happen suddenly, but if you have created a disaster recovery plan, your business will have a better chance of surviving.

You have put in years of hard work and dedication to build and maintain your business. You likely have a plan for growth. But do you have a plan for a natural disaster—flood, hurricane, fire, blizzard, pandemic—that suddenly damages your property, puts your employees at risk and/or puts your company out of business for days or weeks or even longer?

Unfortunately, in 2020, countless businesses in America face a sudden disaster in the form of the coronavirus outbreak. While the disruption caused by this disaster would challenge any commercial venture, those businesses that already had a disaster plan in place are better positioned to survive.

Follow these steps to develop a realistic—and potentially business-saving—emergency response plan. A natural disaster is unavoidable, but the more advance planning you do, the more likely it is that your Manchester business will survive and thrive after the disaster.

1. Determine Your Risks

Which natural disasters are most likely to hit your area: tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods? Identify the most likely threat and start planning for that, then work your way down the list.

2. Learn from Experts

Visit reputable sources of planning information, such as Ready.gov, FEMA and the American Red Cross. The Red Cross’s Ready Rating program offers free online disaster preparedness planning, and many of their chapters also provide free CPR and first-aid training for small businesses.

3. Project the Impacts on Your Business

Next, conduct a business impact analysis (BIA), which will help you develop and refine plans for emergency responses, crisis communications and business continuity. Explore the potential effect a disaster could have on your business, including lost or delayed sales and income or increased expenses from repairs. Review and build upon your existing customer communication, inventory management and record-keeping practices.

Next: Create the Disaster Recovery Plan

Once you have completed researching and analyzing risks and the potential impacts of a disaster, you can draft a series of plans to help you respond if a natural disaster hits your business. Your plans will cover these areas:

• Emergency response
• Communications
• Data management
• Business continuity

See Part 2 of this series for guidance on creating and implementing these plans in the event of a pandemic, fire, flood or storm disaster.

If your business is hit by a natural disaster, like a flood, wind storm or wildfire, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at (860)461-7194

Help Is Here

The team at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire and smoke damage restoration services, biohazard cleanup and natural disaster prevention and cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860)461-7194 any time.

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SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm and other damage.

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If your business is hit by a natural disaster, like a flood, wind storm or wildfire, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at (860)461-7194