Released Sept. 17, 2007
STILLWATER, Okla. – Anyone who runs a business knows it can be hard work. Keeping a business together after an emergency situation can be very difficult, but having a plan in place for your business will help you overcome any obstacle and continue on the journey to success.
A business continuity plan must account for any type of hazard: man-made or natural disaster, said Glenn Muske, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service interim associate dean, assistant director, family and consumer sciences.
“By planning in advance a business can manage any emergency situation,” Muske said. “By addressing the situation, using common sense and available resources a business can take care of employees, and the business’s recovery.”
When getting started on your plan, know what kind of emergencies might affect your company, both internally and externally.
Muske said to find out what natural disasters are most common in the area where the business operates and be aware of some of your community’s risks.
“It is also important to learn about what to do during a biological, chemical, explosive, radiological or nuclear attack,” he said.
A business’s employees are very important pieces of the business. When planning what to do for a disaster, remember to learn about how people need to recover after a disaster.
“After a disaster, staff will need time to check on the well-being of their family members,” Muske said. “Where taking care of family is important, getting back to work is important for the personal recovery of people who have experienced the disasters. Re-establishing routines is important when possible.”
When an emergency hits, think about the basics of survival: food, fresh water, clean air and warmth.
Muske suggests everyone have a portable kit made specially to meet personal needs, such as essential medications, important records, contact and identification information.
Make sure there is an evacuation plan and a shelter-in-place plan.
“It depends on the circumstances and the nature of the disaster, to decide after an incident occurs, whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place,” he said. “A business should understand and plan for both situations in advance and develop clear, well-thought-out plans.”
Of all the business disasters, fire is the most common. Muske said each year fires cause billions of dollars in damage and cause thousands of death and injuries.
Businesses should not forget to plan for influenza pandemic. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak.
“In the unfortunate event of an influenza pandemic outbreak, it is likely to be prolonged and widespread and could result in brief changes in areas of society,” Muske said. “If business owners are informed and prepared they can take appropriate actions to decrease the risk during an outbreak.”
Additional information on developing a business continuity plan can be found at http://www.ready.gov/business/plan.
Along with the Web site Ready.gov, Muske said there are other Web sites focused on helping those in business become successful.
Oklahomans who are interested in receiving high-quality one-to-one business counseling, economic development assistance and training for small businesses and prospective small businesses should visit the Web site http://www.fcs.okstate.edu/microbiz.
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Contact: Katie Reim, (405) 744-6792, katie.reim@okstate.edu
