National Preparedness Month

9/14/2016 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month. In recent years, many different types of disasters have affected the United States. Flooding, tornados, hurricanes, wildfires and blizzards are natural disasters that can threaten your home, business and community. During National Preparedness Month, SERVPRO of Windham & Windsor Counties professionals want you and your customers to be aware of the steps to take to help prepare for Mother Nature's worst.

How quickly your company can get back to business after a tornado, fire, or flood often depends on the emergency planning done today. The following are basic measures business owners and managers can take to begin preparing.

Develop a Business Continuity Plan

Your organization's risk needs will vary depending on the specific industry, size, scope and location. Carefully assess your internal and external functions to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating. Also establish procedures for succession of management.

Review Insurance Coverage

Insurance policies vary: Make sure to check with your agent or provider about things such as physical losses, flood coverage and business interruption. Understand what your policy does and does not cover.

Prepare your Emergency Planed

Your employees and co-workers are your business' most valuable asset. Communication is central before, during and after a disaster. Include emergency information in newsletters, on your company intranet, employee’s emails and other communication tools.

Practice the Emergency Plan

The ability to evacuate workers, customers and visitors effectively can save lives. If your business operates out of more than one location, establish evacuation procedures for each building. If your company is in a high-rise building, an industrial park, or even a small strip mall, it is important to coordinate and practice with other tenants or businesses to avoid confusion and potential gridlock.

Secure your Facility and Equipment

Install fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and detectors in appropriate places. Secure all entry and exit points and plan for mail safety. Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not usable. Secure valuable equipment.

Improve Cyber Security

Protecting your data and information systems may require specialized expertise, but even the smallest of business can be better prepared. Use anti-virus software and keep it up-to-date. Don't open e-mails form unknown sources and use hard to guess passwords. Protect your computer from intruders by using firewalls. Back up your computer data and download security protections updates known as patches regularly.

SERVPRO of Windham & Windsor Counties has an Emergency READY Profile (ERP) to help ensure you and your business are "Ready for whatever happens." The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business. You can access the ERP online using your computer or tablet; download SERVPRO's free Ready Plan app. Or call your local SERVPRO franchise professional to establish your Emergency READY Profile.