Business Disaster Preparedness

Business Preparedness Lunch and Learn

September 23, 2008

Objectives

• Why is planning and preparedness important?

• Discus types of emergencies your business could face.

• Explore elements of emergency and business continuity plans

The test for this class was held last week

Why is planning important

• 75% of businesses that have an interruption due to fire close within six months

• 45% of businesses that close due to catastrophic events never reopen

Why is Planning Important

• Hidden costs of business interruption:– Loss of business

volume/customers– Loss of vendors and

suppliers– Increased costs of

materials– Interruption of cash

flow

Types of Emergencies

• Medical• Violence• Interruption of

Services• Fires• Materials/supply

contamination

Nature

• Storms• Tornados• Flooding• Winter storms/snow• earthquakes

Emergency Planning

Immediate needs at the time of an emergency

Employee Protection

• Evacuation Plan

• Emergency Communications

• Medical Emergency Plan

• Sheltering Plan

• Emergency Supplies

Evacuation Planning

• Specific to facility

• Method to determine who is in the facility

• Must account for safe removal of people and safe shut down of processes

• Provisions for relocation and transportation

• Childcare

Emergency Communications

• Methods for employees and families to make contact with the business and each other

• System for business communications

• Immediate communications with insurers

• Ability to request assistance

Medical Emergency Plan

• Employee Contact Information

• Response training for employees

• Medical Information

• Designated contact person: business to family

• Recovery – decontamination of workplace

• Care for exposed employees

Sheltering Plan

• Should you be forced to remain at your business for an extended time what provisions do you need to make??

Sheltering Plan

• Where will you locate in your business?

• How will you determine when you need to stay at the business?

• What system will you use to communicate?

Emergency Supplies

• Food• Water• Clean air • Warmth• Lighting source• Communications• Media access• First aid supplies• Sealing materials• Sanitation needs

Business Protection

• Communications

• Protection of Inventory

• Protection of Information

• Preparation for disruption of services

• Providing for security of facilities

Communications

• With Customers?

• Suppliers and Vendors?

• Employees?

• Local Officials?

• Cyber Systems?

Protection of Inventory

• Loss of Services

• Structural Damage

• Damage to Equipment/processes

Protection of Information

• Records

• Financial/Payroll

• Insurance

• Inventory

• Cyber

Preparation for interruption of Services

• Production/Operations

• Storage requirements of inventory

• Communications/Internet

• Transportation

Security of Facilities

• Repairs/Boarding up

• Security of Information

• Protection from elements

• HVAC

Business Continuity Plans

Recovering to return to business with as little interruption and loss

as possible

Business Continuity Plans

• Alternative operating locations

• What functions and staff are vital to keep operating

• How will you maintain operations if suppliers are impacted by a disaster

• How will you maintain operations if customers are impacted by a disaster

RESOURCES

• www.ready.gov

• www.redcross.org

• www.disastersafety.org

How can we prepare our business community?

• Focus group: Discussion on sharing resources and business community planning