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Does your company have an emergency preparedness plan? No one is immune from a disaster, and it can happen to anyone at any time. However, what can set you apart is how prepared you are for an emergency or disaster and how quickly you can get back up and running again afterward.

Assess The Risk

Risks can come in any form. Both manufactured and natural, especially if you have physical premises in an area affected by adverse weather conditions. You need to look at the more imminent threats to your company and what you are more at risk for. This can be blizzards, wildfires, threats or violence to staff, or increased break-in and theft attempts for high-value products or equipment. Once you have identified the risks, you can prepare a plan.

What Protective Actions Can You Take?

Each emergency scenario has a correct answer that can save lives if taken care of immediately. Plan to implement one of the following actions, depending on the situation: evacuation, shelter in place, or lockdown. Take steps to ensure that your personnel are properly trained and are aware of each protection measure you have implemented.

Who Are The Key Contacts People Need to Know?

It’s critical to identify who in your business has the skills and training needed in an emergency. Do your employees know CPR? Who will be the internal and external point of contact for instructions and information? Who is responsible for chemical spills? Who knows the facilities well and can help limit the damage?

Include in this list third-party contractors who can help you to remedy any damage you might sustain. This can be anyone from a security expert for data breaches online, a Water Damage Restoration Company, structural engineers, construction companies, and more. Anyone who can help you to get back up and running if you suffer damage to physical buildings.

Inventory

Make sure you have a full and thorough inventory list of all the items you might need on-site. This can include bottled water, flashlights, fire extinguishers, medical supplies, tools, etc. Know where this is located and how to access this in an emergency so if you need it, you can know exactly where to find it and what will be there.

Keep Up To Date

Snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters are now better predicted. Preparing for storms includes assessing damage, protecting undamaged property, salvaging, and cleaning up afterward. Keep an eye out for potential weather disasters to minimize damage and business inconvenience.

Make sure to monitor all types of threats to your company. However, they might appear.

Be Financially Prepared

In the worst-case scenario, emergencies might result in the loss of life. However, even in the best-case scenario, they will almost certainly be expensive. Make sure you have contingency cash set up in case of damage or disruption – it could turn out to be the best investment you ever make.

Business owners, understandably, keep their attention focused on the bottom line. When it comes to an emergency, though, the only thing that matters is whether or not you are well prepared.