Protect your business: Steps for disaster preparedness
We know all eyes are on Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico as it moves toward the western side of Florida. While St. Johns County will not experience the worst of the storm, we can expect to see serious weather. Schools in the county will be closed Wednesday-Friday; several schools function as public shelters. Some zones will be called to evacuate; check your zone and make a plan to move inland to a safer area.
Doing business in Florida means being prepared for hurricane season and everything that comes with it, from flooding to high winds to road closures and more. Businesses must be ready for hurricane season and any other emergency or disaster by having two critical items on hand: a stocked emergency supply kit and a complete and updated business continuity plan.
You can find an emergency supply checklist at www.ready.gov/kit or www.sjcfl.us/hurricane-preparedness/. You can put together a simple business continuity plan with these steps:
STEP 1: Start by answering these questions
- How will you and your employees receive emergency alerts and warnings? What happens if you lose cell phone or internet service?
- What is the shelter plan and evacuation route for employees?
- What is your business communication plan? Do your employees have this information available (even if they lose cell phone or internet service)?
- Is your insurance information up-to-date? Do you have recent photos of your facility, inventory, and equipment?
- Have you budgeted for emergency supplies, loss of revenue, insurance deductibles, or IT disaster recovery?
STEP 2: Consider the specific needs of your business
- Would flooding impact your business? If so, do you have a plan to keep important documents, inventory, and technology safe from floodwater?
- Do you need employees to remain during an evacuation to secure your business? If so, is there a plan in place for this?
- If you lose electricity, do you have a plan for generator backup?
- How would you manage your business if nearby streets are closed?
- How would you continue to work if you were without cell phone or internet service for days or even weeks?
STEP 3: Create an emergency plan and share it with your employees
- Make sure the plan is available, even if cell phone or internet service is down.
- Contact your local Small Business Development Center to get additional business preparedness assistance or to help you create an emergency plan.
- Update your plan quarterly and ensure all new employees understand the plan.
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