MOUNT VERNON

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

  Disaster Preparedness for Businesses  

U. S. Small Business Administration

PREVENTION

·        Carefully assess the risks (e.g., flood, fire, earthquake, etc.) for each specific business location, and plan accordingly.

·        Maintain basic safety equipment, such as fire alarms, heat and smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, etc.  Also, keep first aid kits handy.

·        Develop and practice an evacuation plan.  Don’t obstruct evacuation routes.

·        Buy a portable radio with spare batteries in case of power failure.  Get a portable early-warning system such as a weather radio.

INSURANCE

·        Be sure to have adequate insurance to cover all the specific risks at the business site.  SBA recommends that each business have an annual insurance “check-up” to be sure coverage is kept up to date.  Most hazard insurance policies do not cover flood or earthquake losses, and separate flood and earthquake coverage may be necessary.  Be sure both the building and contents are covered.  In addition, businesses should obtain business interruption insurance.

RECORDS

·        Preserving important business records is vital.  Be sure to keep current copies of business tax returns (most current two years), lease, financial data, accounting records, personnel information, marketing strategies, insurance records, inventory information, etc., safely stored at an off-site location. Also, back up computerized records on diskette or tape daily, and store the back-ups off-site. These records will be required when seeking disaster loans and/or grants.

RECOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

·        Maintain a list of telephone and fax numbers of employees, customers, vendors, bankers, attorneys, insurance agents, professional recovery services, equipment rentals, and appropriate emergency agencies.  Keep a copy of this information at an off-site location.  Update this list regularly.

·        Establish a means of contacting employees who may have been displaced from their homes by the disaster.  Also be sure employees have an alternate method of contacting the business if it is forced from its normal location.

 

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