You may think that nature will spare your small business in the case of a disaster, but the truth it that as many as one in four business owners will face some type of situation that threatens their livelihood. And, with the harsh elements we’ve had to deal with over the last couple of years, it’s a good idea to start protecting yourself as soon as possible. Here is a quick guide to exactly how you should do it – so that you can get back to work right away, feeling a bit more confident and secure in your own office.
Natural Disasters Are Increasing
Not to encourage you to build a shelter underground, but natural disasters are, in fact, increasing with as much as 40 % per year. While some point to climate change and global warming, one thing is certain: as a business owner, you need to take precautions and prepare your office in case something should happen in the area you work.
It will save you a lot of money, depending on what kind of disaster we’re talking about, as the total cost of destruction storms, floods, and droughts have jumped from $14 billion to $40 billion per year.
It’s worth being prepared for even if you don’t live by the cost or in a tropical area; it is, in fact, not as much the actual destruction of business premises that is expensive as much as the loss of revenue due to customers being impacted.
Mitigate And Minimize
Mother Nature can be moody, so it’s best to start preparing yourself by first identifying what kind of disaster your area is prone to. If you live somewhere with a diverse landscape, chances are that both forest fire, drought, and floods may happen as well as a storm – so map out the highest risks and come up with an emergency plan from there.
It’s a good idea to have an emergency kit prepared in the office at all times, as well as the number to access services such as Northern Mat & Bridge ready at hand so that you are able to enter or exit the office even when the roads are obstructed. Fill the emergency kit with a flashlight, spare batteries for cell phones, water bottles, and canned food in case the access service takes longer than you thought.
Natural Disaster Plan
Now that you have the numbers you need to call as well as an emergency kit packed with supplies, you’re ready to make a plan. It’s really helpful when everything is confusing and uncertain, so make sure the plan is able to tell you what to do step-by-step.
Include ideas of how to get a hold of your products in case your supplier is not able to get to you, how you will work with utility companies to get your office up and running again, etc. Have a look at this article if you’re not sure how to write a disaster plan.
Nobody likes to do this kind of planning because you hope, of course, that you will never get to use it. Yet, it’s going to safeguard your business from any large financial losses – and your employees will be grateful that you’re the kind of boss that thinks ahead.