Steps to Comprehensive Business Planning and Preparedness
- John Cornelison
- February 28, 2012
Table of Contents
Got a business on Vashon? Here’s what you need to know to avoid disruption after a fire, a storm, a pandemic, or an earthquake. It is courtesy of the Washington State’s Emergency Management Division’s Business Preparedness Website, that includes a ton of additional resources to help your business survive!
Step 1: Develop a Business Continuity Plan to ensure core functions and key personnel are identified and to ensure normal operations are resumed as quickly as possible.
Step 2: Promote Employee/Individual Preparedness:
- Distribute information and offer training for all employees on Individual and Family Preparedness.
- Complete Out-of-Area Contact information card.
- Maintain individual 72-Hour Comfort Kits in the office.
Step 3: Conduct a Non-Structural Hazard Assessment of your workplace. Take steps to reduce potential impacts.
Step 4: Develop and test Emergency Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place at Your Business that includes site specific information for each business location.
Step 5: Take steps to protect vital records.
Step 6: Develop a communication plan:
- List key contacts: Personnel, Vendors and Suppliers, Contacts.
- Develop a Media Communication Plan.
Step 7: Review insurance coverage form on annual basis to ensure you have adequate coverage to meet your risk level.
Step 8: Learn how to drill/exercise using ICS principles. (Sample Earthquake Tabletop exercise).
- Update plan to include changes from lessons learned.
Step 9: Complete the Key Vendors and Suppliers Form and ensure they have a Continuity Plan to validate integration of plans.
Step 10: Collaborate with local neighborhoods, community/volunteer groups, and businesses to promote disaster preparedness and plan for community recovery.
Step 11: Get to know your local fire, law enforcement, and local Emergency Management personnel; discuss their role and how you can support their response to your business if an event occurs.
Additional preparedness resources can be found in Washington’s Emergency Management Division’s Preparedness Web Section
