Prepare Your Business

2/12/2020 (Permalink)

Knoxville Fire Damage

8 Steps to Prepare My Business for a Disaster

Roughly 40% of businesses impacted by a disaster won’t survive because they didn’t have a recovery plan in place. The stunning wave of problems that arise in the aftermath of an accident can derail the unprepared. Please don’t get caught off guard when it comes to being well prepared for disaster. Although nobody likes to think about it, disaster can strike—from the devastating aftermath of a destructive tornado to the inconvenience of a burst pipe or hot water heater, and disaster can come.

At SERVPRO of West Knoxville, we know that you want to be a successful business owner. In order to do that, you need to minimize the risk of downtime that a disaster can cause. The problem is that without a plan disaster could have a detrimental effect on your organization. That’s a stressful position to be in, and it’s avoidable with some forethought and planning.

Don’t get caught off guard. Get disaster plan steps in place before disaster strikes.

1. Take an objective look at your overall risk

Look internally and externally at your risk.

• Common risks—Power outage, human error, and failed technology can all present disasters that put your business at risk.
• Weather-related risks—Storms, tornadoes, and floods are all a possibility when you live in Knoxville—and businesses need to be prepared.
• Fire—The risk of fire should be planned for no matter your location in the U.S. The devastating effects of smoke damage alone can hit a business hard.

2. Evaluate your business’s most critical daily operations

Make a note of all vital aspects.

• Payroll, billing, and service fulfillment constitute critical functions.
• Determine a process for restoring them in case of disaster.
• What equipment and materials are vital to your daily operations?

3. Decide where you can relocate if the need arises

“Plan B” needs to be in place.

• To continue your primary business operations, where can you locate that if your building suffers a disaster?
• Make a note of your alternate location such as your home, another branch, or a nearby business vendor, and decide on a plan for recovery.

4. Stay current on backing up your data

Avoid devastating loss of data.

• A daily backup is a good idea to keep your information safe.
• Keep your data offsite, so it remains secure if your business experiences disaster.
• Test your data retrieval capabilities to verify your backup system is working.
• Plan how you would replace vital technology such as computers and printers if they were destroyed.

5. Talk with your vendors

It’s always better to make a disaster plan and not need it than it is to need a plan and not have one.

• Talk through what you would do to continue receiving the materials your business needs after a disaster.
• Develop a relationship with additional vendors in case it is necessary.

6. Store emergency food and water in case of disaster

Get practical things in order.

• It’s wise to keep nonperishable food and bottled water on hand in case of an emergency.
• In addition to food and water, gather the following and have them located in an emergency kit in case of disaster: flashlights, batteries, a radio, cash, passwords, other vital documents, and a first aid kit.

7. Admonish your employees to have a disaster plan in place

Ask employees to prepare an emergency plan for themselves and their loved ones.

• Your greatest asset is your employees. When planning for disasters, if you get everything in place for your building, but not your employees, there’s trouble ahead.
• Please work with your employees on their disaster plans so their recovery time from disaster will be minimized.
• Implement a plan for communicating with your employees if disaster strikes.

8. Develop a communication plan in case of disaster

Be sure to deliver the program in advance so everyone is aware of it.

• You, your staff, and your vendors should implement a plan for communication in case a disaster causes your phones to stop working.
• Make a hard copy of email addresses, phone numbers, and, if necessary, physical addresses of your staff and vendors. Store it away from your building in case disaster strikes.

At SERVPRO of West Knoxville, we’ve seen how a disaster can bring significant downtime. We’ve also worked with hundreds of business owners and property managers to ensure they are prepared and covered in case of an emergency.

Commercial Emergency Restoration Management Plan

We believe that businesses should be able to recover quickly and effectively in the case of disaster. Here’s how simple it is to implement our services ahead of time, so you’re ready if disaster strikes:

1. Call and talk with our team.
2. Get a complete assessment and recommendation.
3. Be covered in case of disaster.

Restore your commercial property and recover your business

SERVPRO of West Knoxville is prepared to address your commercial property’s emergency restoration needs promptly, and our team draws from over 50 years of experience. We provide a variety of commercial property restoration services, including:

• Storm damage restoration—We remove fallen trees for your safety. We provide quick, temporary, safe roof repairs, and offer a temporary power supply when needed.
• Cleaning and contents management—We preserve relevant paperwork, clean fabric, and protect fragile items in the aftermath of the disaster.
• Water damage restoration—We restore your business after water damage, including water extraction, drying, and dehumidifying.
• Fire and smoke restoration—Our team eliminates smoke residue and deodorizes commercial buildings.
• Mold remediation—We eliminate mold and prevent any future mold growth.