How Is Your Company on the Disaster Preparedness Chart?

Those of us who live in areas like Ohio are fortunate enough to not experience disastrous events. We don’t really get building-shattering earthquakes like our Californian friends, and we don’t experience massive, evacuation-worthy hurricanes like our Floridian neighbors. Outside of bad blizzards and a lot of road construction- Ohio’s appetite for chaos is rather mild.

That being said, I recommend you have an emergency plan for your business. You may not experience those weather related incidents, but what happens when your power goes out? Major snowstorms or a flood can strike anywhere.Interestingly enough, an estimated 25% of businesses do not reopen following a major disaster.

Do you have insurance? Did you buy it because you hoped you would have to use it? Or do you hope that you won’t have to use it? Most of us have homeowners insurance, I hope I never have a tree fall on my house- but if I do, I won’t be paying out the nose to fix it. So, let’s get started on your disaster preparedness plan:

Starting the Process

If you don’t know where to start, have no fear! Here are some steps to begin your disaster preparedness process:

1. Assemble your team – Start by getting a group together that you feel are best suited for the role. Remember that these individuals need to be leaders in their own divisions, and they can step up and take charge if a disaster occurs.
2. Define your overall goal – It may go without saying, but keeping your employees and customers safe is your primary goal. This overall goal will also include a business continuity plan. For example, you may want to hang a sign on the door that states, “Sorry, we are closed due to _________, we will return to normal business hours on ______”, or having a recorded line for your voicemail that tells customers the same thing.
3. Determine your potential disasters – It is difficult to prepare for any scenario under the sun, so start with the easy ones. If you live in Ohio, it is wise to create a plan for blizzards. And just about everywhere needs to have an active shooter plan. Go through every possibility with your team.
4. Assess each potential disaster and develop your plan – You should probably hire a security expert for this part. You need to go through each potential disaster and determine the best ways to prevent injury to employees and customers, manage panic, and encourage business continuity.
5. Distribute your plan to your employees – You need to inform your employees that you have developed a plan; it may also be a good idea to have a distribution plan when a disaster does happen. For example, if you have a blizzard, be ready to send out a reminder email of the plan to handle blizzards.

There is no quick and easy formula to creating your disaster preparedness plan. Unfortunately, there is just too much information to include in one single article. I recommend you spend some time looking through this website for some more information, as well as some forms that will guide you through the process. I hope that I’ve helped you get started- but if you feel that this is truly important, and you would like some help…

SACS Consulting Can Help With A Plan

SACS Consulting and Investigative Services, Inc. can assist your business with disaster preparedness, active shooter training, safety training, and policy and procedures development.

If employee and customer safety is your top priority, SACS Consulting to discuss any related safety topics! Call (330)255-1101 or fill out a Contact Us Form on our website!