Small business owners should incorporate disaster planning in their business plans
Business planning is something that small and medium size businesses often struggle to manage. The challenges of running and operating a business can often leave most executives living in the moment. When a business owner has the opportunity to evaluate their business objectively and plan for the future their focus is generally on improving the bottom line and growing revenues. During this planning process an area that is often overlooked by many businesses is a disruption to their business from an unforeseen disaster. Disasters are certainly never planned or easy to predict, but have the possibility to originate from any number of sources, many of which are directly out of the control of the business owner.
There are a number of areas a business owner should consider when incorporating disaster planning into their business plan. First and foremost should be the safety of their employees and customers. Creating and practicing evacuation procedures on a semi annual basis for fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes is a must for every business. Posting safety exit maps within large buildings and commercial properties is highly recommended. Companies should create a clear chain of command in responding to disasters that includes contacting emergency rescue services, disaster restoration recovery, insurance company notification. Maintaining a spreadsheet of contact information for your employees and safety personnel in multiple secure locations, both online and in print format, is also advisable.
Following a disaster every business will have a different road to recovery. Depending on the scope of damage done to a property, businesses may be forced to completely close their doors to the public until their building in safely restored. Emergency power is one of the most immediate needs following a disaster. Hospitals and government buildings will often have built in backup generators to assist with power supply in the event of a disruption to their business. Small business owners will likely need to secure portable generators to provide temporary power until their electricity is restored. Opening your business following a disaster should only be done after a proper safety inspection has been done.
Most business owners who have secured Commercial Property Protection insurance will have coverage for their business structure as well as the lost revenues during the period they are non operational. This insurance will help to bring the business back from a disaster, but does not assist in recovering losses from customers who seek out a replacement for the services or goods your business offer and never return. According the State of Florida division of Emergency Management, almost 40% of small businesses that close due to a disaster never reopen. It is recommended you thoroughly review your insurance policy to better understand what coverage’s you have in the event of a disaster and verify coverage for flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters.
There are some proactive steps a business owner can take to help reduce the likelihood of an unexpected disaster to their business. Fires are one of the largest contributors to disasters, but often occur from maintenance or building deficiencies. Routine inspection of equipment, proper installation of smoke detectors and removal of clutter and debris around your business office are highly recommended. Hiring an electrical contractor for annual inspection of the buildings electricity box and lines should also be considered.
There are some additional items all businesses should consider to aid with the recovery from a disaster. Maintaining a database backup of computer files offsite is another proactive step you can take to help recover your business records. Disaster restoration firms will often board up properties windows prior to a large tropical storm or hurricane, which can help reduce property damages. Pre planning for a disaster with a emergency restoration contractor to secure the necessary equipment and resources for your location in the event of an emergency.
The Small Business Administration offers a comprehensive plan on business disaster recovery which can be accessed here via PDF format.
Michigan likely to be burried in largest snow storm of 2010
The Metro Detroit area is bracing for the largest snow storm of 2010. According to most predictions the region could receive between 5-10 inches of snowfall within the next twenty four hours. The large snowfall is part of a major cold front that is working its way across the northern part of the country and will put areas of the Midwest and North Atlantic under a severe weather alert for the balance of the week. To date, Michigan has experienced a mild winter compared to 2009 as temperatures and snow fall are both significantly different than last year. Severe weather is one of the largest contributors to property disasters for residential and commercial property owners.
Severe weather and large accumulations of snowfall can quickly create large scale property disasters. Large amounts of snowfall can put stress on a properties roof and lead to potential damage. As the snow melts, the likelihood for ice dams and property water damage increase. Utilizing a special shovel for removing snow from a roof is a good way to help reduce the risk of property damage. In addition to the snowfall, wind can quickly escalate property damage, especially in multi story buildings where it can find its way into the properties attic and attack the electrical or heating systems. Jarvis Property Restoration offers services during winter storms for proactive property defense (snow removal/cleaning of ice dams) as well as emergency roof tarping and water damage restoration and cleanup.
Staying safe during a winter snow storm should be the first priority for you and your family. Avoid unncessary trips out of your home and checking in on elderly family members or neighbors is always recomended. Large amounts of snow can also create health risks for shoveling and removal. It is recomended that you clean show in twenty minute intervals, while taking breaks to warm up your core body temperature and replenish fluids.
Sewage damage should be cleaned by IICRC technicians
One of the biggest disasters that a proper owner may experience is a breakdown in their property sewage system. The responsibility of the exterior lines from a property into a municipality waste line will vary by city. Many cities site their responsibility for maintaining these lines once they reach the common shared lines often located near a street. Sewage lines between the home and the common line fall back onto the property owner for properly maintaining. This responsibility is often one that most property owners fail to realize until a breakdown or backup occurs. Most insurance carriers will offer coverage for the breakdown of a properties sewage line or the unexpected backup of sewage into a property.
Sewage can create significant damage to a property and should be handled with extreme urgency. The immediate priority for a restoration company will be to attempt to contain the waste and damages to as small of an area as possible. Depending on the amount of damage and areas that have been affected, the use of specialized equipment such as HEPA air breathing machines and protective jump suits will need to be worn the restoration technicians. Safety from air born toxins is one of the most important reasons to contact a professional cleanup firm immediately.
Breakdowns in a sewage line can happen just as easily in a residential building as a commercial property. The potential for interior lines to break increases by the size of the property and the number of floors a building has. One of the worst case scenarios involves the breakdown of a sewage line on the top floor of a multi story building. The process of restoring a property from sewage damage is based on the surfaces that were infected and the areas that were exposed. One of the key elements in this equation is the amount of time that the waste was exposed and the level of containment. Often in sever cases, complete reconstruction may be required for materials that were exposed. In some cases, carpeting and drywall will need to be removed and replaced as a part of the restoration process.
Personal safety is the most important issue with sewage damage. The potential for viral, bacterial or other parasitic contaminants to spread is a major concern, additionally mold and mildew can quickly begin to form. Cleaning up from a sewage disaster requires expertise in disaster recovery. Technicians that have been certified through the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration) will have the experience to quickly implement the appropriate cleanup plan. Once the damage has been properly cleaned a restoration firm can test the quality of the air and effected surfaces to ensure that they have been properly cleaned and all dangerous pathogens have been removed.
