Evaluation for Your Business’ Disaster Preparedness | SERVPRO® of Reno Southwest

3/19/2020 (Permalink)

The importance of planning ahead is not lost on business owners, but they may underestimate the need to plan ahead for a disaster or emergency.

Businesses that do not have a preparedness plan in place tend to be hit harder by disasters—not necessarily physically, but in the overall impact it has on the business. By doing an evaluation of your preparedness, you can determine where to strengthen your efforts and ensure you are fully protected.

By breaking preparedness into three sections, business owners can more easily determine where they are strong in their preparedness and where they could stand to do more. Here are the three categories we think all business owners should prioritize:

Your Commercial Insurance Coverage

Unfortunately, commercial insurance coverage does not always provide adequate protection when it comes to a disaster. Not only can disasters cause damage that is more costly than the average policy, but some common scenarios are explicitly excluded, such as in the case of flood-related damage or loss of revenue due to damages. It is best to know in advance what your policy will cover and learn of your options for purchasing extra protections.

Your Emergency Plan and Supply Kit

When the alert is sent out about a natural disaster, or if an emergency like a fire occurs, there will often only be minutes to react. Having an evacuation plan is vital to keep both you and your employees safe in this scenario. It is also wise to plan for a situation in which you will have to await help and stay on-site during an emergency such as a power outage. Stock an office emergency supply bag with enough food, water and medical supplies to cover anyone who may be present.

Your Plan for Restoration and Recovery

Limiting the time that your business must remain closed due to a disaster is advised to minimize the negative impacts it has on your business. Picking your restoration company ahead of time is one of the best ways to do this—by calling them right away, you can get your restoration process started and prevent any scheduling delays. You should also be aware of the disaster assistance loan program from the Small Business Administration in case you are eligible.

If your business has been impacted by a disaster, you can contact us ²⁴⁄₇ for guidance on how to begin the commercial restoration process.