Can your business weather the storm of a natural disaster? While weather can be unpredictable and unforgiving, having a plan may help you save your business during a crisis. Here are three steps to help make sure your small business is prepared way before a natural disaster hits.
Step 1: Assess your current disaster preparedness plan
First things first, if your business doesn't yet have a disaster preparedness plan in place, you should start creating one. Natural disasters can’t be controlled, but they may be contained with proper planning. You should have a written plan and be sure that all your employees are aware of what to do in event of a crisis, from chain of command to data backup policies.
And check to make sure you're properly insured. “Always break down your assets into the controllable and uncontrollable ones,” says Bill McBean, author of The Facts Of Business Life: What Every Successful Business Owner Knows That You Don’t. “Then make intelligent decisions regarding all your assets in terms of how they can be protected after a disaster, so your business can survive to fight for market share when things calm down."
Step 2: Magnify safeguards
Expand on your current plan to anticipate all types of risk your business is susceptible to. Keeping an emergency plan for every crisis will allow you and your employees to remain calm during crisis. Also, consider not just your area, but regions where your suppliers, vendors, key clients and remote workers are located that could be susceptible to natural disasters.
Step 3: Think long term
Instead of just planning to survive a disaster, why not plan for success? Mike Michalowicz, CEO of Provendus Group, points out seven ways to help communities and serve new markets during a natural disaster.