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Homeowners insurance covers private homes in the event of damage or loss to the property or structure. More
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Business Emergency Management – Business Assistance During Emergencies
It is essential to have a Business Emergency Management Plan in place in case of a crisis situation. Below is an emergency plan and assessment checklist along with important contact details for government emergency departments and agencies.
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
DERA The Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association
http://www.disasters.org/dera/dera.htm
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/emergencies.html
NEMA National Emergency Management Association
http://www.nemaweb.org/
Keep an updated list of essential contacts:
- Public Health Agency
- Police – Local and State
- Fire department
- Emergency Medical Services
- Local Government Officials
- Electric, gas, water and telephone companies
Safety Equipment:
- Fire Extinguishers
- Smoke Detectors
- Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- First Aid Kits
- Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s)
Your Emergency Plan Checklist:
- Designated leaders who will be in charge during an emergency or crisis situation.
- Warning system for communicating with staff
- Evacuation Procedures
- Special considerations for staff with medical conditions and disabilities
- Procedures in place to deal with medical emergencies internally
- Specific shelter or emergency point for staff to assemble
- Communication procedures in place for employees and family members
- Have an out of town contact number you can call during an emergency
Prepare your Business:
- Back up all vital business data and records
- Identify vulnerabilities
- Install emergency lighting
- Ensure you have relevant insurance cover
- Train staff in emergency response procedures
- Identify emergency exits and alternative routes out of you business premises
- Identify an emergency assembly area
- Maintain up to date emergency contact details
- Encourage staff to keep contact details up to date
Emergency or Disaster Situations that could affect your business and employees:
- Fire
- Floods
- Severe Storms
- Earthquakes
- Cyber Attacks
- Tsunami (Coastal Regions)
- Hazardous Materials Spill
- Terrorist Attack
Practice your Business Emergency Management Plan:
- Regular drills and safety assessment for both your staff and business premises
- Evaluate your emergency plan and drills, improve emergency procedures if necessary
- Train staff in emergency treatment and first aid
Emergency and Disaster Supplies:
- Emergency water
- Emergency food
- Protective clothing
- Portable radio
- Sanitation supplies
- Flashlights
- Blankets
- Two way radios
- Portable power generator
Businesses caught in emergencies and natural disasters stand to lose significant amounts of revenue due to the downtime caused by unsafe and therefore unusable offices. One solution is to use shared, temporary or serviced office space until the business' primary residence is declared safe. A list of buildings offering fully furnished and equipped serviced office space available on flexible move-in, move-out terms can be found here.