Business Disaster Planning

Business disaster planning is no joke and it doesn't matter what state your business is located in. Disaster can happen to any business, at any time, and anywhere. When we talk about disasters, we immediately think about hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, but you also have to think about other disasters like fire and flooding.

The main point however, is how to get your business up and running again, regardless of the disaster it has suffered.

Here are a few steps you can take if disaster ever strikes your business.

1. Make sure your employees are aware of this disaster plan and under what conditions it will be put into use.

2. Focus on what your business will need to get started again, and make plans centered around those needs.

3. Make sure all computer files have back ups and are stored off site.

4. Make sure you have a disaster plan in place with the phone company to have your services installed at the temporary site, and restored at the permanent location as soon as possible.

5. Determine how much space your temporary business will need in order to function at minimum capacity, and make arrangements with several locations. Several locations are needed in case some of them are damaged.

6. Make a list of the necessary equipment you will need at this location. Pick only the equipment that is vital to running the company.

7. Make a list of the people that are most important to running the business, because these are the people you will need.

5. Organize recovery teams of about 5 people each. Make sure they are familiar with the daily running of the business. These teams will be responsible for assessing the damage, management, administration and communications.

6. Set up a place where the recovery teams can meet.

7. Have a plan in place for a recovery team to contact employees and customers.

8. Make sure you include a disaster plan that will take care of your employees during this down time. Most companies will continue to pay their employees full pay for a certain amount of time, then a percentage after that.

If nothing else, let them know they can file for unemployment compensation during that time.

Your employees and customers are important to the success of any business, but if you can't get your business back up and running after a disaster, then employees and customers won't matter much.

Business disaster planning will be the key to your company's survival.