Is your business ready for disaster?

The Institute for Business & Home Safety is asking US businesses to conduct a quick ten point self assessment to determine whether their business is ‘ready for disaster’. After completing the quiz on the Institute’s website, visitors will be directed to the Institute's free disaster planning toolkit. This includes materials to help organize the business's critical information and review its essential operations. This ‘Open for Business(SM) Toolkit’ can be downloaded from the site or free single copies in booklet/CD-ROM format can be requested by emailing info@ibhs.org or calling toll-free 1 (866) 657-4247.

The ten questions businesses are asked to answer are:

1. Are you concerned that your normal business operations might be interrupted by a natural or human-caused disaster? Yes No Unsure

2. Have you determined what parts of your business need to be operational as soon as possible following a disaster and planned how to resume those operations? Yes No Unsure

3. Do you and your employees have a disaster-response plan in place to help assure your safety and to take care of yourselves until help can arrive? Yes No Unsure

4. Could you communicate with your employees if a disaster happened during or after work hours? Yes No Unsure

5. Can your building withstand the impact of a natural disaster, and are your contents and inventory sufficiently protected? Yes No Unsure

6. Are your vital records protected from the harm that could be caused by a disaster? Yes No Unsure

7. Are you prepared to stay open for business if your suppliers cannot deliver, your markets are inaccessible, or basic needs (e.g., water, sewer, electricity, transportation) are unavailable? Yes No Unsure

8. Do you have plans to stay open for business even if you cannot stay in or reach your place of business? Yes No Unsure

9. Have you worked with your community, public officials, and other businesses to promote disaster preparedness and plan for community recovery? Yes No Unsure

10. Have you consulted with an insurance professional to determine if your insurance coverage is adequate to help you get back in business following a disaster? Yes No Unsure

Self-Assessment Results
Your score indicates how well-prepared you are for a disruption.

7 - 10 Yes answers: You are well on your way.
4 - 6 Yes answers: You have lots of work to do.
1 - 3 Yes answers: You should get started immediately.

http://www.disastersafety.org/

•Date: 11th May 2006 • Region: US • Type: Article •Topic: BC general
Rate this article or make a comment - click here