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Develop A Written Plan for all types of emergencies
When you develop your written plan, make sure to address the following major areas:
- o Make plans for the protection of plant and equipment.
- o Develop a staffing policy that identifies essential employees and which of them, if any, must remain at the facility during the hurricane. Outline a chain of command and what each person’s responsibilities will be pre and post storm. The policy should identify when employees will be released from work, as well as when they are expected to return. Employees living in designated evacuation areas should be released from work to protect their families and homes once an evacuation is ordered for their area, if not before. Businesses may predetermine that employees will return to work when county or local municipal employees are ordered to return, in case telephone service is out. Establish a rendezvous point outside the evacuation area and time for employees in case damage is severe and communications are disrupted.
- o Develop a policy of employee support. Make arrangements for family sheltering during a hurricane, and day care and food/water distribution after a hurricane.
- o Develop procedures and policies for all phases of hurricane operations:
· Pre-Season Preparedness
· Hurricane Watch
· Hurricane Warning
· After the Hurricane
- o Identify and protect vital records such as accounts receivable, customer records, tax records, and other personnel and administrative documents.
- o Review insurance policies to ensure that there is adequate coverage. Questions to ask include:
· Is the facility in a high hazard, evacuation area?
· Does the insurance package include wind/storm coverage?
· Is the facility in a NFIP Flood Zone? Is the area prone to flooding? 30% of all flood damages occur in areas that are not required to purchase flood insurance. Is your flood insurance adequate?
· Does insurance cover damage to contents, including vital records and office equipment?
· Does the package include liability coverage for injury to employees as well as lawsuits from customers?
· Do you have coverage if the business is damaged 50% greater than market value and you are required to comply with current building codes, including elevation of the structure? Consider obtaining "Increased Cost of Compliance" insurance.
· Do you have business interruption coverage? Does it take the impact of evacuation orders and/or curfews into consideration?
· Do you need to have Accounts Receivable and Valuable Papers Coverage and Income Destruction Insurance? If you have Business Owners Protection Package (BOPP), check co-insurance provisions.
- o Have your business appraised at least every five years.
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