Protecting Your Business, from Hurricane’s & Beyond. Tips for building your disaster recovery plan.

2023-06-26
By: Advocate Brokerage

June marks the start of Hurricane Season so it is important to take steps today to protect your business from any potential damage. When you are in the middle of a crisis, it is challenging to think clearly so even if your business is not physically located in an area that is normally associated with hurricanes, keep reading. After all, hurricanes can cause supply chain issues, airport closings, power outages, not to mention you may have key vendors located in the path of the storm, a major storm can cause a disruption to your business.

Our top tips for preparing your business to withstand the risks associated with a hurricane include:

• The most important item on our list is to take the time to create a disaster recovery plan. Keep in mind that 90% of small to mid-sized businesses fail within a year if they can’t resume normal business within 5 days. A disaster recovery plan is essential so that your business can successfully navigate the aftermath. Below are some steps to take as you work to create a Disaster Recovery plan for your business.
  • The first thing you need to do is to analyze your business. Look at your leadership structure, communication chain, insurance coverage and any existing plans. Make any necessary updates.
  • Create a detailed list of your daily operations and make sure your entire team are aware of their specific responsibilities.
  • Identify an alternative location to run your business from should your current space become unavailable. Are your employees able to work from home? Do you have an infrastructure in place to ensure a seamless transition? Take steps to get that in place so that you have a backup plan in place.
  • Develop a plan to secure your technology and data. Make sure that all your staff members are aware of the plan.
  • Create a comprehensive safety plan. Consider places to hide, evacuation routes, first aid policies and procedures. It is very important to communicate your safety plan with your entire team. Knowing what to do in any situation will help your team feel more prepared and they will be less likely to panic should a disaster occur.
  • Create documentation so that your crisis plan is on hand to refer to should an unexpected crisis occur. Items that should be included in your plan include:
    • Details on how, when and what to communicate to staff members, customers, and local media if necessary.
    • Copies of any important documents you may need as you navigate the recovery process including insurance coverage.
    • A master document with important numbers and contact information for members of your team.
    • A breakdown of all policies and procedures to follow, including incident-specific instructions for different scenarios like what to do in a hurricane vs. a terrorist attack.
    • A clear leadership hierarchy if some staff members are unavailable during a crisis.
    • A regular training schedule to ensure all staff members are familiar with the current plan and prepared for a crisis.

• Keep hard copies of your key company contacts, your client contact list, and your disaster recovery plan accessible outside of your computer system.
• Make sure your assets are safe. If you have inventory or equipment that is stored in a location that makes it vulnerable to damage, move it to a safer location if possible. Additionally, take all the necessary safety precautions to ensure that your buildings and personal property will be protected in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane.

We are committed to helping our clients protect their companies as if they were our own. We never want to see our clients face an emergency unprepared. Remember we are always here for you. For all of us here at Advocate Brokerage, it is about more than just insurance, it’s about you so if you have any questions, we encourage you to give us a call!