Is your business emergency ready?

AUTHOR: DEBORAH DROTAR, SERVPRO

The best way to reduce business interruption following a disaster is to plan for it now. As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster, according to the latest industry research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. Planning ahead speaks trust to your clients and your employees.  Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.
 
Are You Ready?
Many businesses have an emergency contingency plan in place, but few have a plan back into buildings following a disaster.  It is estimated that 95% of disasters affecting regular business operations are internal or man-made, such as fire or internal flooding.  With the proper planning, you can better recover from disasters after they occur.
 
Consider a plan post-disaster to help you recover. This is a vital component of any pre-existing contingency plan. Here are a few check points:

• A concise profile document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. This could include structural information or special instructions. It will only take a little time to complete, and will save a lot of time if ever needed. 
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster. This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action.
• Establish your local disaster mitigation and restoration provider.

• Identify the line of command for authorizing work to begin. This saves time to begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.
• Facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in advance.

 
Think about the potential disasters that could affect your facility.  Now ask yourself this question:
 
ARE YOU READY?
To find out more about the Emergency Ready Profile offered by SERVPRO of Naples/Marco Island contact Deborah Drotar. The Emergency Ready Profile is a start up approach that provides critical information needed to begin mitigation and recovery services.

SERVPRO of Naples/Marco Island independently owned and operated Franchises have been helping business owners recover from disasters for over 40 years… The Experience You Need! Trusted by Insurance companies across America.  Over 1700 Franchise locations in all 50 states, specializing in fire water mold clean up and Restoration, we are faster to any disaster. 

If you are a Chamber member and interested in writing for the blog as an expert in your field contact madeline@napleschamber.org