BC Planning
Dear Business Owner
We live in uncertain times. In addition to the day to day pressures of operating a small business, we are now faced with more extreme natural disasters and a new variety of human induced threats (terrorist acts, computer viruses, cyber crime, anti-globalization riots, etc.).
For many years, emergency preparedness and contingency planning were thought of as a luxury. Corporations were reluctant to allocate the necessary time, staff or funds to prepare for the possibility of emergencies such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, fires, floods or thefts. Many chief executives mistakenly believed that the sheer size of a corporation would ensure survival. Among larger organizations this view has changed and senior management is now recognizing the true value of being prepared.
It has become increasing clear that government’s primary responsibility is to restore basic public services before rendering assistance to the private sector. Direct aid to individual businesses is not on the priority list. As a result, it is recommended that the private sector be self sufficient for a minimum of three days. In fact, depending on the nature of the incident, you might have to carry on in “emergency mode” for a much longer period.
As a small business owner, you are much more vulnerable than a larger corporation. If your site is inaccessible, you do not have multiple locations to act as backup sites for doing business. Do you have a business continuity plan on how you would carry on, during or after a major incident? If there is no tested plan in place, up to 86% of small/medium sized small businesses fail within 3 years of a major incident. Do you want to be part of that statistic?
We seeks to keep your business operating soon after a disaster. The sooner your business is up and running again, the more likely that your business will remain viable.
“Despite the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and Rita in 2005, nearly half of the 1000 companies polled said that they do not take specific actions even when state or federal governments issue warnings for an impending disaster.” AT&T Study
Go To Business Solutions provides custom designed business continuity, emergency preparedness and Business Inventory plans to the small business community ofLong Island,NY. Our approach is to listen to our clients’ needs, assess theirs risks and provide solutions. Assuring your safety and the continued operation of your business is our primary concern.
Please contact us now to set up an appointment to protect your business.
http://www.gotobusinesssolutions.com
Business Disaster Planning is Important
Release Date: February 3, 2010
Release Number: 1861-013
NORTH LITTLE ROCK,Ark.– One-fourth of all businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. But businesses that have a disaster preparedness plan – and implement it – typically have less damage, loss and downtime than those that do not.
The recent flooding in the state affected many Arkansasbusinesses. With this current disaster risk in mind, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) urge business owners and managers to increase their chance of surviving this or any other type of event in the future by being ready before disasters happen.
“When businesses survive, they help the whole community recover from a disaster,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Hannes.
A business disaster preparedness plan should include measures to protect the organization’s staff, building, data and inventory during a damaging event. It’s critical to plan for continuing operations if the worst happens and the main business premises are unusable due to disaster damage. A sound plan typically includes a pre-identified site where the business can temporarily relocate; means to retrieve data, including employee, customer and vendor records; and a method for operating effectively with a smaller staff of key individuals.
FEMA provides a step-by-step approach to emergency planning, response and recovery for companies of all sizes in its Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry in the FEMA publication library at www.fema.gov. Additional preparedness information can be found at the Department of Homeland Security’s site: www.ready.gov/business. FEMA’s Private Sector Division serves as a central point of information and collaboration between federal disaster response/recovery efforts and the private sector – businesses, associations, for-profits, academic institutions and other non-governmental organizations.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also has a preparedness guide for businesses at www.sba.gov; search for “disaster planning guide.” The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).
Planning ahead also includes purchasing insurance, but not all perils are covered by typical commercial business policies. Flooding is a risk for manyArkansasbusinesses, even those not located in the most high risk areas. One-fourth of all claims to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) come from locations that were not designated as high risk.
“Business owners should be warned that commercial business owners’ policies usually provide no coverage for flood damage,” said FEMA Hazard Mitigation Branch Director Leroy Ingram.
The source for flood insurance is the NFIP. Businesses can find insurance agents who sell NFIP policies at www.floodsmart.gov.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
