Disaster Preparedness:
Is Your Business Protected?
1) Always put safety above property
2) Back up your data every day, and keep a copy offsite
3) Scan copies of your irreplaceable papers and keep offsite
4) Insure what you can't afford to lose
5) Have an evacuation plan: people first, then equipment
Is Your Business Prepared For Disaster?
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California Wildfires, October 2003 First-hand account Jeff Strauss stared in stunned amazement as the inferno bore down around his nursery in Simi Valley, California, surrounding it by flames licking high into the night sky. Exhausted after a nine-hour fight, the blaze had finally forced him and his team to evacuate before it was too late. "There was really nothing more we could do," recalls Strauss of the devastating Piru Fire, as it clamored down the hillsides toward American Wholesale Nurseries in the early morning hours of October 26, 2003. "We'd sent our data disks, critical paperwork and cash offsite with other employees hours earlier, and did all we could to minimize damage should the fires hit the property." Strauss knew that help was not to be found as he watched fire trucks racing through the canyon and passing his facility on their way to more strategically critical locations. "By 3:00 in the morning, we had to get out of there. I didn't think there would be much left by the time we were able to return." |
Portrait of Disaster
When disaster strikes, everything abruptly changes. Routines are shattered, business is disrupted, and property is destroyed. People may be seriously injured or killed.The wildfires of 2003 that raged through Southern California burned over 750,000 acres, destroyed more than 3,000 homes, displaced over 100,000 residents and killed more than 20 people. Five counties were declared disaster areas - Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and San Diego Counties, the latter of which endured the largest single fire in the state's history (the Cedar Fire, which incinerated nearly 300,000 acres).
If you've ever experienced disaster, you know the toll it can take - shock, confusion, grief - emotional recovery alone can take months or even years.
The impact on your business and employees can be staggering. Equipment and facilities wiped out, people out of work. Some things, like data and important papers, are irreplaceable. And if you aren't properly prepared, your insurance may not be enough to help you recover from the devastating loss.
These fires, and more recently Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast, delivered a powerful reminder: Things can change at any time. Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to prepare for when disaster strikes, and to help you recover quickly so that you can get your business back online in minimum time.
Related topics:
Disaster Prevention: Basic Tips for Small Business
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© Copyright 2007 Michael Riley. All rights reserved.