Workforce Management

Disasters Happen: National Preparedness Month

Ella Baker
Disasters Happen: National Preparedness Month
Reading time 4 Mins
Published on Sep 7
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September 2018

Natural disasters can happen without warning and happen whether your business is prepared or not. September is National Preparedness Month. Take this time to form a preparedness plan to ensure that your business is ready to respond when disaster strikes.

Preparedness planning for businesses

Your business can’t control or negate the impacts of a natural disaster, but you can be better prepared to deal with the aftermath. From flooding to tornadoes to massive power outages, the hazards facing your business are serious. Take a proactive approach to disasters by using the Ready Business Toolkits provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and help ensure that your business is ready when disaster strikes.

Ready Business Toolkits

The Ready Business Toolkit series provides hazard-specific guides offering businesses step-by-step instructions to build preparedness plans. Each toolkit contains the following sections:

  • Identify Your Risk
  • Develop a Plan
  • Take Action
  • Be Recognized and Inspire Others

Since one of the goals of FEMA’s toolkit series is to ensure that all businesses are prepared for disasters, each kit includes information on how your company’s participation will be recognized and tips to help spread the word to other organizations and businesses.

Inland Flooding Toolkit

With most of the US at some risk for flooding, it is important for businesses to recognize the potential impacts. Understanding your risks, developing a plan, and taking action can help protect your business, your employees, and your customers.

FEMA’s Inland Flooding Ready Business Toolkit guides employers through the development their response plans. FEMA found that in the 12 months following a flood disaster, 25 percent of small business will close and 75 percent of business without a continuity plan fail within three years of such an incident.

Developing a strategy for dealing with the immediate aftermath of a disaster and a continuity plan for your business will help sustain your ability to provide goods and services to your customers, preserve your competitive advantage, and help ensure your ability to meet financial, legal, and regulatory obligations.

Severe Wind/Tornado Toolkit

While Tornado Alley, comprising a sizeable chunk of the Midwest, is most likely to be hit by tornadoes, most of the US is at some risk of severe wind events or tornadoes. The incredibly destructive nature of such events makes being prepared to deal with these disasters that much more important.

FEMA’s Severe Wind Tornado Toolkit guides employers through the development their response plans. Understanding the potential impact of these weather events on your community and business can help save lives and your company.

Power Outage Toolkit

Though power outages may not be as dangerous as other disasters, 70 percent of businesses and other organizations will face a power outage in the next 12 months. Annually, power outages cost the US economy $20 to $55 billion dollars, so understanding the potential impacts of an outage for your business is essential.

FEMA’s Power Outage Ready Business Toolkit guides employers through the development their response plans. With about 44 percent of power outages resulting from an accompanying storm or natural disaster, this toolkit is most beneficial when used in conjunction with other disaster toolkits.

Safety and Sheakley

Natural disasters are not to be taken lightly. Keeping your workforce safe is priority one for your company. Sheakley can help you develop better policies and provide assistance with disaster preparedness programs to help you achieve your safety goals. Sheakley’s Workforce Management Services experts provide complete safety resources for your company.

Get your free safety consultation today with an expert from Sheakley. Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. Join in the discussion by commenting below.


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