While I have an individual plan for how I’ll prepare for a disaster, I also have a separate plan for my business. Of course I want to come through a disaster in good shape, but I don’t want to be devastated financially either. I depend on my business to help pay for my retirement. I need to protect my source of income.
In the same way you assess the types of disaster that may affect your life at home, you’ll want to assess what types of emergencies may befall your business: flood, fire, tornado, etc. Develop a brief plan for continuing to provide services following each disaster that may have a negative impact on your business.
Look at the staff, materials, procedures and equipment that are absolutely necessary to keep your business operating. Make a list of your most important customers and how you can best serve them during and after a disaster. Identify key suppliers, shippers, resources and other businesses you must interact with on a daily basis. Develop professional relationships with more than one company in case your primary contractor cannot service your needs.
Next, design two plans for continuing service, one for sheltering-in-place and another for evacuating and managing your business from another location. Don’t just make a plan to survive a disaster, make a plan to ensure your business survives too. For more detailed information, please go to http://www.ready.gov.