Business

​​​​Emergency Preparedness Planning for Your Business or Organization

Businesses and Non-Profits and their staff face a variety of hazards, such as Natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes; Health hazards such as widespread and serious illnesses like the flu or pandemic; Human-caused hazards including accidents and acts of violence; and Technology-related hazards like power outages and equipment failure. But there are practical steps that business and non-profit leaders can do to prepare his or her organization for the most likely hazards. See links below to on-line resources and toolkits that can help your business or organization be better prepared for emergencies. 

1. Preparedness for Non-Profit Organizations

2. FEMA’s Ready Business program helps business and organizational leaders make an emergency preparedness plan to get ready for various hazards. The Ready Business Toolkit series includes hazard-specific versions for earthquake, hurricane, inland flooding, power outage, and severe wind/tornado. Toolkits offer business leaders a step-by-step guide to build preparedness within an organization. Each toolkit contains the following sections:
•Identify Your Risk
•Develop A Plan
•Take Action
•Be Recognized and Inspire Others

In addition, the Ready Business Videos provides leaders with the tools to plan, take action, and become a Ready Business. The program addresses several key parts of getting ready, including Staff, Surroundings, Physical space, Building Construction, Systems, and Service. These videos briefly explain each concept.

3. Business Continuit​y Plan - is a plan to help ensure that a business or organization’s processes can continue during a time of emergency or disaster. Such emergencies or disasters might include a fire or any other situation where business is not able to occur under normal conditions. Also see Disaster Preparedness for Small Businesses.

 
4. FEMA’s Business Continuity Certification Program – is an intensive curriculum that is available for students at all levels, from individuals new to continuity to program managers with many years of experience. Training classes enable personnel to develop and enhance their continuity knowledge and expertise. Some courses are offered in a web-based independent study (IS) setting to allow students an opportunity to expand their knowledge of continuity. For more information about in-person courses, email FEMA-Continuity-Practitioner@fema.dhs.gov.

5. Do 1 Thing  has developed a 12 month program to help you get your business ready by taking a small step each month. Unlike our usual program, it is important that businesses start at month one, and go in order as each month builds on the last month. We highly encourage businesses to take advantage of this program that we have spent a long time on.

6. American Red Cross Ready Rating Program
The American Red Cross ​Ready Rating program is a free, self-guided program designed to help businesses, organizations and schools become better prepared for emergencies. Members complete a ReadyGo or ReadyAdvance assessment and have access to tools, tips and best practices to help improve their level of preparedness. 

Other on-line Courses & Information:
Introduction to Continuity of Operations
CyberSecurity