Prepare for Emergencies

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

Being prepared before a disaster strikes will help ensure your business can reopen as soon as possible.

September is National Preparedness Month and Ready.gov lists more than 25 types of disasters to prepare for.

Disasters can take many forms and the financial cost of rebuilding after a disaster can be overwhelming. If you’re prepared for emergencies, you’ll be in a better position to recover and continue operations should disaster strike.

Be prepared

Step 1: Assess your risk

Every business has unique vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Knowing which disasters are most likely to affect your business can help you to return to operations faster. A back-to-business self-assessment can help you to assess your risks for common hazards such as hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, or even cyberattacks.

Statistics say that 25% of businesses won't open again after a disaster.

Step 2: Create a plan

Your response plan is your roadmap to recovery, so it should be tailored to your business’s specific needs and operations.  It should address immediate priorities and be easy to access.  Checklists and online toolkits are effective resources to help you develop your plan. 

Consider the following:

The IRS guide on preparing your business for a disaster

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency preparedness checklist and toolkit

Focus on disasters that pose a realistic risk to your small business.

Statistics say that 25% of businesses won't open again after a disaster.

Step 3: Execute your plan

Practice your plan with your staff so you’re ready when a disaster occurs.

If disaster does strike, SERVPRO of Gainesville West/Alachua County West is here 24/7 to help your business get back up and running.