Every September is National Preparedness Month. Here are some resources you can use and steps you can take to help ensure that your business has adequate emergency plans.
If a disaster like a fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, or a terrorist attack occurred, would you, your family, and your business be prepared?
September is National Preparedness Month. The U.S. government and its many private industry and nonprofit organization partners are suggesting that all of us become better prepared for emergencies of all kinds.
During my more than 37 years of service in the U.S. Navy and the Defense Department, I learned the value of planning for disasters. I began my service as a 17-year-old seaman on an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War. The carrier had plans in place for a coordinated response to every type of disaster, from enemy attacks to shipboard fires and accidents.
I learned that training drills must be an intricate part of your disaster emergency plans. I learned that planning and training saves lives.
Later in my service, when I was the administrative officer of a Defense Department command in Philadelphia, I developed and coordinated the command’s emergency plans, such as continuity of operations (COOP), emergency evacuation, and shelter-in-place plans. I also conducted periodic drills for our military and civilian employees.
As a business owner, you, too, should have emergency plans in place. You should have a plan to relocate the business in the event of a disaster, and you should have both an emergency evacuation plan and a shelter-In-place plan.
Depending on the situation, you may want your employees and customers to quickly evacuate your place of business or you may want them to seek shelter indoors.
You should also have emergency supplies on hand, such as an emergency supply kit for each employee and extras kits on hand for customers and visitors.
Ready.gov offers recommended lists of emergency supply items one should have, and the website also outlines commonsense measures business owners and managers can take to plan and prepare for disasters. The website also offers the small business owner practical steps and easy-to-use templates to help one plan for the company’s future.
These recommendations reflect the Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Standard (NFPA 1600) developed by the National Fire Protection Association and endorsed by the American National Standards Institute and the DHS. It also provides useful links to resources providing more detailed business continuity and disaster preparedness information.
Ready.gov notes that how quickly a company can return to business after a terrorist attack, a tornado, a fire, or a flood often depends on emergency planning that is done today. While DHS states they are working hard to prevent terrorist attacks, the lessons of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks demonstrate the importance of being prepared.
Though each situation is unique, any organization can be better prepared if it plans carefully, puts emergency procedures in place, and practices for emergencies of all kinds.
Ready.gov states that putting a plan in motion will improve the likelihood that you and your company will survive and recover.
For more information on the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov for more emergency preparedness information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
