It’s critical to plan for business continuity, and now is the perfect time of year to either begin or review your process.

The most likely widespread devastating event that could occur in Mid-Missouri would be a tornado. Tornadoes may occur during any month of the year, with the most active season beginning in March. So now is the time to prepare, even more important during this period of economic slowdown.

A disruption may come from a variety of community-wide natural or man-made disasters, such as a widespread health outbreak, or a specific event, such as a fire, that may only affect your business. If you’re ready now, you can survive.

Small Business Association (SBA) statistics demonstrate that after a disaster, 60 percent of businesses within the disaster-involved area will fail-regardless of a direct operational impact or damage. An example would be a commodity-based business that receives and distributes goods. Customers, vendors and suppliers may not be able to gain access to the business due to debris or roads and bridges being out. Customers, vendors and suppliers may be impacted by widespread utility outages. Staff can be affected by these same burdens and could be unable to get to work. Virtual isolation from the outside world could devastate a business.

Here are some basic points to consider when planning for potential disasters and other emergency situations:

• All employees should be included in the planning process.
• Begin by training yourself and your staff on what to do during an emergency or disaster and what’s expected from each of them. (Remember families always come first. Caring for families frees the employee from worry and affords them the time and opportunity needed to get back to you and business concerns.)
• By using an all hazards approach, you can be prepared for any event that may occur. Rather than planning for each type of event weather, fire, earthquake, or man-made, just know that most disastrous events will create injuries, illness and loss of life, property, infrastructure and utility service. Planning for the impact of these potential issues and not specific types of events, will prepare you for anything!
• Basic considerations for more detailed planning:
• business continuity planning
• emergency planning for employees and customers
• emergency supplies
• sheltering in place or evacuation
• practicing your plan
• supporting and encouraging family and individual preparedness
• Have a weather-alert radio on site and monitor it-don’t turn it off (NOAA weather radio with SAME notification can be obtained from most stores that sell electronics).
• Have emergency and essential phone numbers readily available at multiple locations-maybe even in your car or at home. Include up-to-date lists of all your shippers, suppliers, customers and other crucial resources. You may be affected by an event that doesn’t directly impact you but may impact your supplier or banker.
• Plan evacuation routes and procedures for employees and customers-and practice it. Include sheltering in place.
• Plan for people with special needs.
• What operations are critical to the survival and recovery of your business?
• Which staff, materials, equipment, and procedures are absolutely necessary to keep your business operating?
• Establish a process for succession of management and each critical position at least “three deep,” if possible.
• Prepare for an occasion where your facility and staff are fine, but your building or facility is inaccessible, even though it may not be damaged.
• Most importantly, review and practice several times a year. As your business changes, so will your emergency needs. Do not be satisfied with an outdated plan.
• Remember: Your most valuable assets are your employees. Let them know what’s going on during all levels of the process-mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Let them plan for their homes and families first and the business second.
• Have a third party out-of-town phone number where employees can get information and leave an “I’m OK” message. Do this for your family as well.

There are many software-based plans and programs available on line or in stores to help with the planning process. Many private companies and firms are available to provide business input analysis, risk assessments and continuity planning.

McNabb directs the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management