IN CASE OF DISASTER

Our faculty panel offered these practical tips:

Plan Ahead

• Gather information on developing a disaster plan.
Review it often to make sure you know what would need
to be replaced in case of a natural disaster; don’t count on
government assistance. The plan should be written and
periodic trainings and practices should be conducted.

• Meet with your insurance agent before you have a problem.
Be sure your insurance doesn’t just cover costs to replace
physical damage, but also covers losses due to interruption in
being able to operate your business.

• Back up your records; have redundant data storage.

• Line up alternative suppliers. With just-in-time inventory, if a single
supplier goes down, you may be in trouble. It might also be smart to
explore options for developing reciprocal agreements with competitors.

Once Disaster Strikes

• Make sure a head emergency coordinator is in charge of the overall crisis management response.

• The initial response should concentrate on warnings and evacuations of personnel to safe locations.

• A functioning communications system is vital, and it should not be vulnerable to damage by the natural disaster. Satellite phones are probably best. Communication failures, as demonstrated in Hurricane Katrina, greatly hinder response efforts.

• A high-level spokesperson, preferably the CEO, should work with the head emergency coordinator to handle communication to employees and their families, the media and emergency authorities.