Summary: National Preparedness Month, celebrated every September, is a great time for small business owners across the country to revisit and adjust their own disaster recovery plans. What is National Preparedness Month?
Hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, tornados, blizzards, or even
active shooter situations are all risks companies face throughout the year. Understanding how to prepare for and respond to certain crises can mean the difference between life and death.
Since 2003, the
Ready Campaign has educated and empowered Americans to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters, by promoting preparedness through public involvement.
National Preparedness Month is held every September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
National Preparedness Month 2024 Theme: “Start a Conversation” Focus on preparing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities (AANHPI)
Sponsored by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and
Ready.gov, the theme for National Preparedness Month 2024 is “Start a Conversation” which is focused on preparing the AANHPI community for whatever might come their way. These communities face challenges like language barriers, lack of culturally appropriate outreach, and rising sea levels for coastal communities.
Preparing for Natural Disasters and Emergencies
Every small business owner should understand how to plan for a disaster, especially since one can strike anywhere, at any time. All small businesses, from retailers to restaurants, should create a disaster recovery plan so all employees know how to react in an emergency.
The Ready Campaign states that some of the most common hazards businesses face include:
- Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes
- Health issues such as widespread and serious illnesses like the flu or COVID-19
- Acts of violence and other human-caused hazards, including accidents
- Technology-related hazards like power outages and equipment failure
National Preparedness Month: Evaluate Your Business Continuity Plan
There is a lot that business owners can do to prepare for the most likely hazards . AmTrust encourages its policyholders to develop a
business continuity plan, which outlines the procedures an organization should adhere to in the event of a major disruption or disaster. Creating, updating, and
testing your plan is critical to responding successfully to a natural disaster or other business disruption.
This National Preparedness Month, make sure your organization is ready for an emergency by:
Determining the possible hazards in your region
Across the United States, natural disasters vary by region.
Hurricane season starts in June and lasts through November, affecting the Southern states and East Coast. The Northeast and Midwest deal with blizzards and ice storms in the winter months, while the West Coast may encounter
wildfires in the summer and fall or earthquakes throughout the year. The
summer can also bring additional risks from heat stress to summer storms.
Assessing the building’s risk for potential vulnerabilities
Once you understand the hazards your business may face, conduct a thorough examination of the interior and exterior of your building to determine its main weaknesses. Take note of where upgrades may be needed structurally based on the types of disasters that pose a real threat to your community.
Safeguard the building as needed
Help reduce damage to the building by making the necessary adjustments. If you’re at risk for
flooding due to a hurricane or strong storm, for example, make sure to install dry flood protection materials like floodgates, sandbags or tarps, keep machinery and electronics elevated off the floor, and keep outdoor furniture and signage anchored down or moved inside.
If wildfires are a threat, noncombustible siding materials like brick and concrete can help protect from flames and radiant heat.
In snowy, cold regions, contract with a company for
ice and snow removal from the property, and make sure to protect your business from potential liabilities by taking precautions. This includes obtaining Certificates of Insurance for workers’ compensation and liability and automobile insurance, with proper limits of coverage, and keeping them on file.
Publish and post your disaster recovery plan
Ready.gov has a variety of resources for
business continuity planning to help you recover, reopen quickly, and reduce losses. Creating this plan is the first step in understanding the risks your business may face. Continually reviewing, updating, republishing, and distributing the plan will help all employees make quick, informed decisions following a disaster.
Make sure you have adequate businessowners insurance coverage
Part of a disaster recovery plan involves reviewing your current
businessowners policy (BOP) to ensure that should something go wrong, you’ll be in a financial position to rebound well. AmTrust’s standard BOP not only includes general liability and commercial property coverage, and
business interruption insurance to protect when unforeseen events – like natural disasters – temporarily disrupt your ability to function as usual.
Protect Your Small Business with a BOP from AmTrust Financial
AmTrust Financial underwrites over 350 class codes, making us an ideal fit for a variety of small businesses. Learn how our
businessowners policy can help keep you focused on what’s most important – growing your company.
Contact us today to learn more.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not legal or business advice. Neither AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates represents or warrants that the information contained herein is appropriate or suitable for any specific business or legal purpose. Readers seeking resolution of specific questions should consult their business and/or legal advisors. Coverages may vary by location. Contact your local RSM for more information.