If you own a business, it is important to have a plan in place if disaster strikes. If your facility is substantially damaged, your business will be effectively shut down. Think about how a disaster can affect your employees, customers, and workplace. Think about how you can continue to do business if the area around your facility is closed or streets are impassable. Think about what you would need to serve your customers, even if your facility is closed.

The Better Business Bureau urges businesses to consider the following in light of a potential disaster:

• Develop business interruption plans and implement mitigation measures to minimize loss of jobs and business activity. Identify staff who would be essential to business resumption efforts, and keep an up-to-date list of their names and phone numbers. Be sure all employees know where to go and what to do when disaster strikes.
• Keep emergency supplies handy, including flashlights, with extra batteries, first aid kit, and food and water for employees and customers to use during a period of unexpected confinement at your business. Line up alternate vendors for essential supplies and equipment. Have back-up equipment and know its availability. Sign contracts on these items if necessary to avoid last-minute rushes.
• Know your assets. Be sure an inventory of your assets is up-to-date. Purchase and maintain insurance policies that provide adequate coverage for those items that you cannot afford to lose. Remember that standard policies often do not cover business interruption losses.
• Keep duplicates of all essential records, such as personnel, payroll, payables and receivables, at a safe, off-site location. Be sure you have a back up of important computer files.
• Support local community disaster prevention efforts that reduce the risk to critical local infrastructures like electricity, water, and roads, all of which are necessary for continued operation of your business.