Emergency Preparedness for Businesses

Disasters not only devastate individuals and neighborhoods, but entire communities, including businesses of all sizes. As an employer in your community, having a business continuity plan can help protect your company, its employees, and its infrastructure, and maximizes your chances of recovery after an emergency or disaster.

As severe weather season begins this spring, be prepared for emergencies and disasters of all types and lead efforts to encourage your community as a whole to become more prepared. Begin by taking these three simple steps:

• Plan to stay in business.
• Encourage your people to become ready for emergencies.
• Protect your investment.

Ready Business helps business owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses prepare their employees, operations and assets in the event of an emergency. At www.ready.gov/business, you can find vital information on how to get started preparing your organization and addressing your unique needs during an emergency. This website includes resources for overall program management, planning, implementation, testing, case studies, and program improvement information.

Start your preparations with a NOAA weather alert radio. In the 2013 Moore, Oklahoma tornado, a weather alert radio and quick thinking by the bowling alley’s general manager saved lives during a devastating storm.

For more information visit www.ready.gov or watch the Get Your Business Ready for Disasters video.