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Disaster Recovery Begins Before a Disaster
Why bother? Disasters don’t happen here. Even if you think you are not in a disaster-prone area, something like a chemical tanker truck overturning can prevent you and your employees from getting to your facility.
Even if a flood doesn't put your business under water, customers and supplies may not be able to get to you or your tenants. Power outages, brown-outs or surges can affect your daily business operations.
Many disasters, like wind storms, tornadoes and earthquakes, can strike quickly and with little or no warning.
What can I do?
Find out which natural and technological hazards can happen in your area. Get information about how to prepare your employees and tenants to respond to possible hazards and provide help. Disaster safety information and CPR/first aid training are available from your local Red Cross chapter. Get more information at www.redcross.org.
Network with owners who have or need to develop risk or contingency management plans.
Attend seminars and get information from local risk management associations or the Apartment Association, California Southern Cities.
No business should risk operating without a disaster plan.
While reports vary, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster like a flood, tornado or earthquake. These shuttered businesses were unprepared for a disaster; they had no plan or backup systems.
When you start to develop your disaster plan, consider three subjects: human resources, physical resources and business continuity. Think about how a disaster could affect your employees, tenants and workplace. Think about how you could continue doing business if the area around your facility is closed or streets are impassable.
Develop a Plan
Start building your plan now. Here are some suggestions your may want to consider:
- Keep phone lists of your key employees and tenants with you, and provide copies to key staff members.
- If you have a voice mail system at your office, designate one remote number on which you can record messages for employees. Provide the number to all employees and tenants.
- Arrange for programmable call forwarding for your main business line(s). Then, if you can’t get to the office, you can call in and reprogram the phones to ring elsewhere.
- If you may not be able to get to your business quickly after an emergency, leave keys and alarm code(s) with your manager.
- Install emergency lights that turn on when the power goes out. They are inexpensive and widely available at building supply retailers.
- Back up computer data frequently throughout the business
day. Keep a backup tape off site.
- Use UL-listed surge protectors and battery backup systems.
They will add protection for sensitive equipment and help
prevent a computer crash if the power goes out.
Reduce Potential Damage
Prevent or reduce disaster damage in your facility by taking precautions, such as:
- Bolting tall bookcases or display cases to wall studs.
- Protecting breakable objects by securing them to a stand or shelf using hook-and-loop fasteners.
- Moving to lower shelves large objects that could fall and break or injure someone.
- Installing latches to keep drawers and cabinets from flying open and dumping their contents.
- Using closed screw eyes and wire to securely attach framed pictures and mirrors to walls.
- Using plumber’s tape or strap iron to wrap around a hot water heater to secure it to wall studs.
You should also consider having a professional install —
- Flexible connectors to appliances and equipment fueled by
natural gas
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