Risk & Business Magazine Bowen Miclette & Britt Spring 2017 | Page 26

PLANNING FOR HURRICANES
Advanced Planning For Hurricanes
What You Need To Know
O
f all businesses that
close down following
a disaster, more than
25 percent never open
their doors again. While
there’s no way to lower the risk of a
natural disaster from hurricanes, there
are critical measures that can be taken
to protect your company’s bottom line
from nature’s fury. A disaster plan and
adequate insurance are keys to recovery.
DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN
No matter how small or large a business,
a business impact analysis should be
developed to identify what an operation
must do to protect itself in the face of
a natural disaster. Large corporations
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often hire risk managers to handle
this task and some companies hire
consultants with expertise in disaster
planning and recovery to assist them
with their plans. But small businesses
can do the analysis and planning on
their own using these strategies:
•
•
Set up an emergency response plan
and train employees how to carry
it out. Make sure employees know
who to notify about the disaster
and what measures to take to
ensure safety and limit property
losses.
Write out each step of the plan and
assign responsibilities to employees
in clear and simple language.
Practice the procedures set out in
the emergency response plan with
regular, scheduled drills.
• Consider the things you may
initially need during the emergency.
Do you need a back-up source of
power? Do you have a back-up
communications system?
• Decide on a communications
strategy to prevent loss of
customers. Post notices outside
your premises; contact clients by
phone, email or regular mail; and
place a notice in local newspapers.
• Protect employees and customers