Monday, September 08, 2008

Planning Not To Fail

 


# 2284

 

 

 

 

Every business should have an Emergency Plan.  It can save lives, company assets, and your ENTIRE business.

www.ready.gov/business

 

 

 

It sounds simple, doesn't it?  And obvious, too.   After all, disasters threaten someplace in our nation practically every week.  

 

 

So far, in 2008, FEMA has declared 51 Major Disasters in the United States.   Since 1953, FEMA has declared 1787 major disasters on U.S. soil.

 

 

 

But of course, most businesses don't have a comprehensive disaster plan, and of those that do, distressingly few have actually tested their plans.

 

 

A severe pandemic, of course, would be the ultimate disaster for the nation, and for the world.    And the ultimate test of any company's disaster plan.

 

Scientists assure us, another pandemic will come.   What they can't tell us is exactly when, or how severe it will be.

 

 

Businesses, individuals, and other entities that have prepared, and have repeated tested and adjusted their plans, are far more likely to survive than those that haven't.

 

 

The first step for any business in preparing for a pandemic, or any other disaster, is to appoint someone to be in charge of disaster planning.  

 

 

Until that happens, nothing else is likely to get done.

 

 

Once you appoint someone, then you need to give them the tools and resources to get the job done.

 


 

While it is important to plan for  All Hazards  (fire, flood, storm, etc.), all-hazards planning won't be sufficient to deal with a pandemic.  

 

 

Pandemics are specialized disasters, that involve not only your business, and your community . . . but the world around you. 

 

 

The HHS has put together a number of checklists, and documents, for use by businesses in preparing for a pandemic.   These may be found on the WORKPLACE PLANNING page at www.pandemicflu.gov.

 

Some of the resources available include:

 

 

 

Checklists and Letter

Community Guidance

Critical Infrastructure Guide

Employer and Employee Guidance

Related Links

 

 

 

 

It is, admittedly, a lot of work preparing a business to survive a disaster.   It can be time consuming, and expensive.

 

But if the goal it to remain in business tomorow, and next year, and in the years that follow.

 

Planning not to fail is essential.