Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready

Disasters can strike anywhere at just about any time reminding us of the power of Mother Nature. The question is: Are you ready?

Being prepared before a disaster strikes makes sense yet many people fail to take even simple steps to reduce the consequences of destruction produced by nature, machine failure or human error. Planning for a disaster is not an option, it’s a necessity.

A business owner can protect their company by identifying the risks associated with natural and man-made disasters and by creating a plan for action should a disaster strike. The purpose, of course, is to ensure that your business won’t suffer crippling financial loss or total business collapse because of an emergency. This planning and preparation will pay out in huge dividends in the event of an actual disaster.

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Interruption Planning site, offers the tools a business needs to prepare its own disaster recovery plan. The site includes the basic elements of planning for a business interruption, recovering from a business interruption and creating a crisis communications plan for your business.

With an emergency management plan, critical operational decisions can be made quickly and efficiently during a crisis. Having functioning data and back-up systems means your business will continue to operate. And business and employee documents will be available, even if the originals are destroyed.

The chamber’s Business Interruption Planning webpage also includes a Hurricane Information Center packed full of tips on preparing for a hurricane, a shelter checklist and emergency telephone numbers. During a storm, we’ll post the latest news, business openings and closures, and weather and traffic reports.

Also in this section, you will find a Post Hurricane Business Survey. After a hurricane, send this survey back to us so we can pass along the status of your business to those who inquire.

Let’s face it, at some point your business will be at risk. It could be a broken water pipe, an office fire, or a hurricane that can cripple or even shut down a business. Not having the proper precautions in place could mean losing it all. Businesses must be prepared to recover quickly and provide for their employees.

Are you ready?