A Business Tool Kit For Disaster

By Matt Brady

NU Online News Service, Oct. 12, 11:24 a.m. EDT?The Institute for Business & Home Safety and the Global Partnership for Preparedness have joined forces to test a program aimed at helping small businesses reduce their business interruption risk by using a new disaster planning tool kit.[@@]

"Of all businesses that close down following a disaster, at least 25 percent never reopen," said Harvey G. Ryland, president and chief executive officer of IBHS.

Roughly 20 percent of businesses suffer a disruption every year, and the groups noted that failing to prepare for the consequences of an interruption can cause a disruption for not only the local economy, but on a national level as well.

"The goal of the GPP and IBHS partnership is to help businesses plan for and take control of the possible impacts a major business interruption can create," said Mr. Ryland. "By integrating protection from disasters into a company's risk reduction measures, owners will safeguard their investment for their families, their employees, their customers, their communities, and even for their country."

Preparing for an interruption also provides a reduced exposure to loss from such an occurrence, which could lead to lower insurance premiums for a business.

The importance of planning for possible business interruptions has been especially shown in Florida, which has been ravaged by a series of hurricanes this year. The Global Partnership for Preparedness recently visited Charlotte County, Fla., following Hurricane Charley, and offered advice to nearly 200 local businesses in hurricane affected areas on developing business continuity plans.

Known as Open for Business, the pilot program will officially debut in North Carolina, with a similar program planned for the Los Angeles, California area.

Under the program, business owners will be provided details on protecting building and building contents from the impacts of power outages, earthquakes, windstorms, hailstorms, flood, freezing and bursting pipes, or wildfires.

They will also see a checklist of costs of various protection measures, as well as additional resources to learn about disaster safety. Additionally, the toolkit provided to business owners contains worksheets to list key creditors, customers, and suppliers, as well as a disaster supply checklist, an emergency contact list, and computer hardware, software and peripheral inventory sheets.

Through the program, over 16,000 pro bono hours of certified businesses continuity counseling is expected to be provided to small businesses that otherwise could not afford, or that do not have the resources, knowledge or expertise to put the plans in place. These services are being provided by the Contingency Planning Association of the Carolinas.

"CPAC is excited about partnering with the Global Partnership for Preparedness Small Business Preparedness Campaign," said David Shimberg, a certified planner and chair of the Contingency Planning Association of the Carolinas.

Mr. Shimberg said that, "Helping develop and deliver business continuity plan training and providing materials and resources to small businesses at little or no cost is a great way to help strengthen businesses, preparing them to survive after disaster strikes.

"A disaster is not necessarily a major storm or earthquake, but may be as mundane as a broken water pipe on the floor above a business location, or a fire from an appliance left turned on next door. A business must plan to survive any event that interrupts their day-to-day activities. "

Special Reports /

A Business Tool Kit For Disaster

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