Emergency Planning for Small Businesses: Five Ways to Be Prepared

Few small businesses think about emergency and disaster planning, but it is a necessary thing for companies of all sizes. Planning for an emergency or disaster will help you deal with an unfortunate occurrence should it arise, and make you feel more secure in the meantime. Luckily, effective disaster planning can be done in just five steps.

Identify the most likely disasters. Every area has certain natural disasters that are more likely than others to occur. If you live in the Midwest, tornadoes are more common than hurricanes, and people in most areas of California should always be prepared for an earthquake. Make a list of the natural and manmade disasters that are most likely to happen in your area so you can focus on prioritizing.

Choose an exit route. You need to know at least two ways that you and your employees can exit the building as well as two fast routes out of your area should an evacuation be recommended. Speed and safety are the priority in route planning for disasters. It’s important to have at least two of each, so that if one is blocked you will have an alternative choice.

Choose a disaster procedure. What should happen in each of the major disasters likely to happen in your area? Should people go home immediately or stay put to wait out the storm? It’s important to have a detailed, step-by-step list so your employees can make safe decisions in the event of a disaster, even if you are not present.

Plan for good communication with each other and with authorities. There should be a disaster telephone list posted in at least two places in each location of your business. It should include your cell phone number as well as the phone numbers of all of your employees. Also included should be the numbers of authorities such as the police and fire stations, which can come in handy if 911 is suddenly overwhelmed by emergency calls. You may want to also include the names and numbers of local radio stations that would be broadcasting information in the event of a civil or natural disaster.

Stock supplies. There are some supplies, such as bottled water, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit, that will be necessary in almost any emergency. Other disasters, such as tornadoes, require other supplies. Turn to that list of most likely disasters and settle on a minimal list of supplies that you will need in the event that one of them happens. Stock up on them immediately, and check every few months to make sure the stockpile is up to date and complete.

Disaster planning is an essential part of running a modern business. In fact, some insurance companies will give you a break on rates if you have plans in place that will minimize damage to people and property. The most important part of disaster planning to have the correct supplies and to have a means of communication with the outside world. Having a plan will ensure that you and your business make it through any disaster without any harm.