• Behavioral Issues
• Child Care
• Cleaning Up After a Storm
• Communication
• Deciding To Stay Or Go
• Evacuation Shelters
• First Aid & Medical
• Flood Center
• Food and Water
• Help the Relief Effort
• Insurance Center
• Lighting & Power
• Pet Care
• Preparing Your Home
• Special Needs
• Storms Explained

Your Business Disaster Plan: Getting Back to Business

The biggest hindrance to getting your business going after a disaster is not being able to communicate with employees. This is why a business disaster plan is so important- if disaster strikes and a communications plan is intact, you have a means of contacting your employees, and therefore a way to get your business running again.

 

Protecting Your Business After the Storm Hits

• Contact your insurance agent or company.
• Determine your lost income, and list steps before your business can reopen.
• Gather information for your insurance adjuster, such as sales records and history, and profit/loss statements and income tax forms.
• Keep records of extra expenses during the post-disaster time, like equipment rental or temporary location costs.
• Have your building inspected and assess damage.
• Restore utilities.
• Make sure the building is safe before allowing employees and co-workers to return to work.
• If needed, communicate with the appropriate government assistance programs (like the U.S. Small Business Administration).
• Assess financial impact with your insurance company.

 

Helping Your Employees

• Make sure to be sensitive to your employees’ fears and needs. Communicate with your employees. Assess their needs and assure that they and their loved ones have their basic needs met before they can attempt work again.
• For the post-disaster period, modify office rules, such as restrictions on using telephones, dress codes, or bringing children to work.
• If employees are unable to reach the workplace, consider that they telecommute.
• Take extra care to prevent exhaustion and overwork that can happen in the post-disaster period. Doing this will prevent accidents and illness. Have co-workers, especially managers, watch for signs of overwork. In turn, owners and co-workers should watch managers so they do not overwork as well.
• Make sure that all employees know that no one has an essential task that no one else knows how to do. This will help alleviate stress.
• Set clear priorities for employees.
• Avoid unnecessary travel. If travel is necessary, try to organize carpools with the driver being someone who is well-rested.
• Provide opportunities for employees to talk about their stress.
• Organize a group meeting with a mental health professional and provide opportunities for employees to share their experiences informally.

 

Employees Working Off-Site

• If employees are forced to work at other locations/company agencies because of disaster, make sure that they remain in contact with their own organization.
• Employees should be deployed in small groups, if possible, so that familiar faces are around each employee.
• Owner or manager visits to an agency can be helpful for informative purposes and to boost morale.
• Informal newsletters are a great way to keep communication lines open.
  

 

Educating Your Employees

• Educate employees about the need for adequate sleep and drinking water.
• Keep a supply of water available to make sure that employees remain hydrated.
• If the water supply is unsafe, inform your employees and block water fountains, sinks, etc. with signs.