The year of 2011 was a brutal one for the eastern part of the U.S. -- sustaining an earthquake, a major hurricane and serious flooding – all within less than one month. As a business owner, you probably are well aware that such natural disasters can cause serious problems for a company that has no strong disaster plan in place to allow for recovery. If your company has a plan but it has not been reviewed in years and/or your employees are not aware of it, then you are just as vulnerable as a company that has no plan at all.

If you are ready to develop an effective emergency plan for your business, then reading “Could your business survive a disaster? ” is a great way to get started.  

A company's disaster planning cannot be effectively done in a vacuum.  Without co-workers at all levels being brought into the planning process, you will lose valuable input, so include them as active members of your emergency management team.

In Your Business Disaster Plan, Focus on Your Employees

As a business owner, you know that your employees are your company’s most important asset. You undoubtedly feel the obligation to care for them in the workplace; and doing so before, during and after a disaster will strengthen your business continuity.Although your disaster recovery plan should outline procedures that can be put into practice before a disaster to protect employees, it is just as critical to know in advance what your people will need following a disaster. It is likely they will need time to ensure the well-being of their family should disaster strike. But those who have experienced previous disasters will tell you that an important part of their personal recovery involved the stability of getting back to work. Thus, procedures that will restore workplace routines whenever possible are important elements in your over-all disaster plan.

Employees' Special Needs Require Special Plans

Your disaster planning should address employees' special needs as well. If you have employees with disabilities, they already know what assistance they would need, should an emergency arise. So it is important to identify those in your company with special needs and encourage them to take part in your emergency planning process. Explore the various  equipment operations, communication challenges, physical limitations, medication requirements and any other procedures that apply. Don’t overlook the logistics – explore an efective process for alerting those who would otherwise not hear alarms, and identify those who are willing to assist disabled coworkers and are physically able to do what is needed including lifting or carrying.

Your Insurance Agent: An Important Member of Your Disaster Planning Team

During recovery after a disaster, your insurance coverage would certainly have a major role in determining how quickly and efficiently you would be able to resume business operations including services to your customers. So you’ll want to know that you are protected long before disaster strikes. Including your insurance agent in your planning process will assure that you don’t make incorrect assumptions or overlook essential issues. A review of your current policies and coverages is the first step.

Here at the Daniel Howley Insurance Agency in Rockville, MD, our experienced agents are ready and able to help you assess your coverage and plan for all your insurance needs. Please contact us at your convenience.

Arrange a no-obligation review of your insurance policies