Every organization’s plan will be unique but using these tips can help you and your staff review the types of tasks, preparations, and safety measures your team should be able to execute under pressure in advance of a storm, fire, flood, or another natural disaster.

Create a Contact List
Have an easily accessible contact sheet that includes not only management or ownership contacts, but also service providers and emergency services that you may need to obtain quickly if there was an emergency. Consider including the following:
Key Staff Members
Landlord or Building Manager
Insurance Agent and Workers Compensation Provider
Utilities (water, electric, energy, phone, etc.)
POS or IT provider
Emergency Services Non-Emergency Number (Police and Fire Department)
Electrician, HVAC, and Plumbing
Bank, Accountant, and Payroll Company
Plan How to Navigate Continuation of Important OperationsÂ
If your business is closed, certain operational concerns will cease, but others will need to continue in order to stay compliant. If your business is closed or structurally damaged, are you still able to process your payroll for wages owed to employees? When do licenses renew and do you need to have them temporarily suspended? Do you have all the information needed to process your state or federal taxes? Having important information backed up and an action plan of how you are going to navigate these ongoing considerations is paramount.
Prepare Your Team

Preparing your team for what to do in the event of an impending or active disaster is important to ensure the safety of your staff as well as your business. Staff members should be able to answer, or access the plan to assist them with navigating, the following questions:
Who is in charge of communications with staff, vendors, or emergency services (if needed)?
What should be done in advance should a known storm or potential disaster be announced?
Is there a clear evacuation plan in case of a fire or unforeseen emergency?
Where are your key business documents and are they regularly backed up?
Do you have a plan and emergency supplies in place for instances such as a power, internet, or phone line outage?
If there is damage to the property, what should your staff do to ensure that it is properly documented? Remember, pictures are powerful!
Review Insurance CoverageÂ
If a disaster hits, what is and is not covered? Are there items that should be covered that you may have not considered? Keep in mind that anything not listed in your insurance policy is unlikely to be covered. When reviewing your insurance, consider if the following is covered by your current policy:
Debris Removal
Food Spoilage
Improvements-and-Betterments Rider
Utility Systems
Outdoor Property and Signage Coverage
Flood or Mold Coverage
Sump PumpÂ
Fine-Spirits Coverage
Code Upgrade (Ordinance or Law)
Resources to Create Your Own Disaster Plan:
Do you have a plan in place in case of a disaster?
Yes!
Yes, but my employees have not been trained on it.
No.
Working on it!
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