. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It’s May, officially “Small Business Month” for 2014. The month begins with good news: ADP reported that small businesses created 82,000 jobs in April. And NFIP, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, reports that its Optimism Index hit 95, a level not seen since October 2007.

Good news offset by sad realities

This good news is tempered by continued reports of natural disasters hitting businesses across the country: wildfires in Southern California, severe storms in the central states, and hurricane season on the East Coast right around the corner. the corner. And as I write this, I know this is the one-year anniversary of the tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma in 2013.

There is no way a company can survive some of these disasters.

But all businesses can take steps to survive emergencies and prevent them from becoming disasters. The NFIB points the way: “Emergency preparedness must be embedded in the culture of the organization.”

Build a culture of preparation

Having a plan and having practiced it goes a long way toward building that necessary “culture.” (In fact, NOT having a plan pretty much negates any chance of having one.) There are many great resources available online to help you develop your plan, from FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Red Cross. Even NFIB has a good starter article.

The best plans also have practices scheduled. Everyone should understand the basics of emergency or safety equipment. In many cases, when the emergency occurs, some employees may be missing. Others will have to step up to do jobs that are not normally theirs. There will be no time to train once disaster strikes.

Customize your Business Continuity Plan

However, most generic plans don’t really go into the details that make the plan effective for your particular business!

To help fill in these gaps, we’re putting together a series of short videos. Each addresses a potential “missing piece” of a typical small business continuity plan.

You can already see the first three videos. They cover different aspects of emergency communications in the business environment. In less than 16 minutes, you can get some common sense recommendations to apply if services are temporarily interrupted, buildings are damaged, or your entire workplace becomes unusable.

Interestingly, a report came out last week from Tinker Federal Credit Union, whose Moore branch was hit by the Oklahoma tornado. One of his recommendations: “Improve on-site communications during a disaster.”

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *