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I N D U S T R Y I N S I G H T / M I C H E L L E D E V O R E A N D M A R I S S A M . Y A K E R , E S Q .
One of the most stressful factors in conducting business
is preparing for the unknown. According to statista.com,
in 2018, there were 394 natural disasters worldwide. With
the uncertainty of not knowing when a natural disaster is
going to occur, it is crucial to have a business plan in place
to ensure that your company is well-equipped.
PREPARING FOR THE
STORM
Protecting the interests
of your clients, safeguarding employees' lives
and the firm's property, and quickly recover-
ing and resuming operations should be at
the forefront of considerations when disaster
strikes. When putting your disaster plan in
place, some important items to consider are
power and internet outages, data backup and
recovery, the safety of your IT equipment,
financial and operational assessments, staffing,
communications with employees and clients,
and communication with critical suppliers and
vendors.
When it comes to power and internet
outages, a generator is a quick and easy way to
get back up and running. If you are leasing a
space, it is advisable to obtain written approval
ahead of time to allow for the installation of a
generator on a temporary or permanent basis.
Also, ensure that you have reliable battery
backups until the generator is installed.
It is also recommended to have a call tree
in place for when a storm is approaching and
verifying that all staff member's phone num-
bers are updated on a regular basis. Setting
up a staff hotline can also provide the means
to communicate regarding office closures and
other important information related to the
disaster.
Periodic testing and documentation of the
results of your disaster recovery plan are essen-
tial to ensuring you have the proper controls
in place should a disaster strike. is includes
backing up your data throughout the year to
ensure no loss of data, ensuring you have a
plan in place for where your data center can
be relocated in case of a natural disaster, and
identifying an employee who would be willing
and able to travel to the relocation site.
In addition to having plans in place for natural
disasters, every organization must know and
understand the rules of an emergency declaration
during such events.
