When you purchase a business insurance policy, it's your hope that you never need to make use of it, but you can't control something as random as a natural disaster. Mother Nature doesn't give much, if any, warning about floods, heavy storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, hail storms and lightning. It's best to always be prepared for the worst. To ensure the safety of your employees and be able to protect your business, you need a natural disaster plan that covers the following points.
Keep Employees Protected
Having evacuation routes planned and posted, along with marked exits, is essential to getting out of the building in an emergency. You'll also want emergency battery operated lights and flashlights. Having regular safety meetings in which you practice an evacuation will help your employees feel confident about escaping should disaster strike. Finally, scope out safe shelter areas where you can sit out storms while protected in the event of an earthquake or tornado.
Safeguard Assets
Whether your business assets include computers, heavy machinery, sewing machines or an inventory of baking supplies, you need to plan what you'll do with them in the event of a natural disaster. Keeping an up-to-date inventory of all assets is essential if you file a business insurance claim. Consider making a video, updated quarterly, to record the items. Keep digital files on your computer and stored in an offsite computer or external hard drive.
Resuming Business Operations
Every day you're closed is a day of lost earnings. Keep a record, both a physical and digital copy, of all of your employees, contractors, suppliers, creditors, customers and anyone else you need to keep in touch with. In most cases, your business insurance can cover a lot of your losses; but it's always good to have an emergency fund to fall back on in times like this. Having six months' worth of business expenses will help keep your creditors and employees paid while the company gets back up and running. It will take time to build this fund, so start slowly and work your way up until you have your goal amount in a savings account.
Is your business prepared for the worst? Call Town and Country Insurance Agency, Inc. at 308-346-5220 for more information on Nebraska business insurance.