Septiembre es el Mes Nacional de la Preparación, un momento para animar a individuos,familias y comunidades a aprender más sobre desastres y emergencias y cómo estar preparados. Los desastres naturales ponen en riesgo a su empresa, y muchas pequeñas empresas luchan por reabrir después de uno. Es esencial estar preparado, no solo para mantener a salvo a usted y a sus empleados, sino también para proteger la estabilidad financiera de largo plazo de su negocio. Para apoyar sus esfuerzos, hemos recopilado pasos clave que puede seguir este mes para mantenerse informado y mantener su negocio seguro en caso de que ocurra un desastre.
Assess your risk
Every business is vulnerable to natural disasters, whether from a hurricane, an earthquake, or a wildfire. By knowing what could happen in your area, you can plan and stay prepared. Assessing your risk means taking a detailed account of the potential hazards at your business's location. Start by analyzing the structural vulnerabilities of your business and determining the severity of the impact a disaster could have on your operations and finances. Use a risk assessment worksheet to note vulnerabilities and rank the likelihood of different disasters in your area. Moreover, using a disaster-specific toolkit like those for flooding and power outages can provide more insight into the specific risks to watch for.
Create a plan
As a small business owner, you're no stranger to the importance of creating a plan. When facing a disaster, having one in place can make a significant difference in protecting your business and keeping your employees safe. A clear emergency response plan provides actionable steps to follow during an emergency and can help mitigate potential financial losses and damage to assets. Additionally, use these key tips from the IRS to document your assets and digitize your financial records in case of a disaster.
Prepare your employees
Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to share it with your employees. Communicating your plan ensures your team is on the same page and fully informed about the steps needed to keep themselves and their coworkers safe during a disaster. It also helps employees on your emergency response team understand their roles and responsibilities. Likewise, ensuring your employees have any necessary safety trainings, such as fire safety protocols, CPR certification, alert systems training and more, can reduce risks and improve response effectiveness.
Natural disasters aren't preventable, but by following these steps, you can safeguard your business and reduce your risk. Use an emergency preparedness checklist to double-check your protocols and plans. Additionally, know that if a disaster does strike, the Small Business Administration has small business funding, such as home and property disaster loans, economic injury loans and other financial resources to help get your business up and running again.