Is your business ready for an emergency? Scary statistics say nearly 50 percent of businesses are not. Adding to the bad news, half of employees report that their companies lack emergency preparedness. Post-disaster numbers aren’t comforting either. Four of 10 businesses fail to reopen after a catastrophic event. Nearly a third more fold within two years post-disaster.
“Protect your business now: update your emergency preparedness plan, or EPP for short,” urges Darren Impson, President, Paul Davis Restoration of Tampa, Florida. “If a disaster strikes, smart responses won’t come naturally. Confusion often reigns. A smart, accurate, up-to-date roadmap calms your team and gives a fighting chance to survive disruption.”
Use this Q&A to kick off the updating process:Â
Q: Which parts of an EPP need updating?
A: Resist the urge to simply update contact information and call it a day. Instead, review all areas of your plan, starting with your risk assessment. Are storms more severe in your location now? Has the floodplain expanded? Then adjust plans of action to suit your company’s current particulars. It’s likely business has grown, personnel lists have changed, staff responsibilities have transferred, and insurance coverage is different. Finally, update contact numbers, subcontractor lists, partner companies, emergency responder options and the like.Â
Q: What do companies typically overlook in the updating process?
A: First, many companies underestimate their growing vulnerability to cybercrime. Incidents are increasing exponentially, cyberthreat types are diversifying rapidly and cybercriminals are targeting ever smaller companies. Second, companies often neglect planning for major technology failures or outages. Finally, many fail to consider leadership disruptions stemming from accidents, deaths or terrorism.
Q: How do we implement an updated plan?
A: Test the plan: run a practice drill and evaluate how well the plan worked. Adjust the plan if the drill reveals weaknesses. When the EPP is finalized, give copies to employees, leadership teams, business partners and local emergency response organizations.Â
Q: Can we get help updating our EPP?
Paul Davis Restoration provides a free service that helps companies create EPPs specific to their property and operations: emergency contacts, preferred trade and supplier partners, specific mechanical room information, locations of shutoff switches and a variety of additional details you will need in an emergency. A Paul Davis Restoration EPP also positions your company to get fast, priority, targeted response when disaster strikes.Â
Q: What is the most important first step to recovery if disaster strikes?
A: Select a disaster recovery partner long before the roof lifts, the manufacturing floor floods or cybercriminals swoop in. Knowing who to call first is the best route to recovery and minimizing a disaster’s long-term impacts on your business.
Seeking fast assistance with disaster planning? Paul Davis Restoration is ready to help.Â
