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A catastrophic event will put your people and property at risk, and can be detrimental to your brand. While organizational leaders invest a significant amount of time, money and resources to make their ventures a success, few businesses plan for disaster scenarios. Weather emergencies alone pose a significant risk. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 2015 there were 10 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States. Moreover, damages stemming from the recent catastrophic Hurricane Harvey are sure to reach epic proportions.

September is National Preparedness Month - This year’s focus is “” Is your organization prepared?

Create a Preparedness Program for Your Business
The best way for businesses to manage risks is to identify and evaluate all possible scenarios and create a contingency plan detailing how to deal with an emergency, if it occurs. This plan should detail strategies for dealing with emergencies specific to your location and type of business as well as general risks that apply across all industries. 

Access Available Resources

When developing or updating an emergency preparedness plan for your business, it is important to utilize available resources. Fortunately, there are a variety of options available online to help guide you.

• Ready.gov

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• U.S. Small Business Administration

• Building Owners and Managers Association International

• ASIS International

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• American Red Cross

Utilize Internal Resources
Departmental areas of expertise that are often relied upon can include human resources, safety, security and risk management. Additionally, do not overlook the expertise of your contract security team. A quality security provider will possess emergency preparedness planning experience, and that, coupled with a thorough understanding of your facility and daily operations, positions your security team as a valuable contributor to your preparedness efforts. 

These resources can help guide businesses through the preparedness planning process. This includes both the establishment of an initial preparedness plan and its ongoing review as it is critical to ensure plans are always current. .

 

  About the Author
  Geoff Craighead, CPP, past president of ASIS International, is Vice President, Field Training & Development at 91��Ƶ.