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Information about the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program
2020
Natural Disaster Proofing My Small Business
Chris Cribbs, MA, State Specialist for Entrepreneurship
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, from Jan-Sept 2020, there have been 16 separate billion-dollar weather and climate
disaster events across the United States, which ties the annual record that occurred in 2017 and 2011. The
2020 year-to-date costs approach $50.0 billion, but do not yet account for Hurricane Sally, the historic Western wildfires and the Western/Central Drought and Heatwave. Sadly, 25% of businesses don't open again after a disaster. However, you may improve your odds by Natural Disaster Proofing your small business. This back-to-business self-assessment can help you to assess your risks for common hazards such as hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, or even cyberattacks.
What types of disasters in your area can affect your business?
Natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.
Health hazards such as widespread and serious illnesses like COVID 19.
Human-caused hazards including accidents and acts of violence.
Technology-related hazards like power outages and equipment failure.
What can you do to prepare your business for likely disasters?
Knowing your region and the types of disasters most likely to impact your business
Obtaining a Hazard Vulnerability Assessment from your local emergency management agency
Considering which hazards your facility is most likely to experience, based on proximity and past events
Knowing your business or organization's current capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from a disaster
Assessing the physical capacity, supplies, equipment and human resources of your facility to resist damage during a disaster
Natural disaster preparedness checklist for Businesses:
Creation and dissemination of a Crisis/Emergency Business management plan
Pre-designated shelter
Pre-designate an Alternate site for communication and operation
Weather alert radio, walkie-talkies, and several flashlights (batteries)
- Weather alert radio, walkie-talkies, and several flashlights (batteries)
Generator (with gallons of fuel)
Customer Action Plan
Informing customers of the disaster
Informing customers of business operation plan (open and close schedule)
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Employee Action plan
Conduct drills with staff
Create a plan on how to disburse information to employees
Operation plan for payroll, benefits, and Human Resource
Insurance protection based on the recurring natural disasters in your area
Insurance coverage (take pictures of all of your items and save purchasing receipts)
Deductible set aside
Data protection
Transition paper data into electronic data (paperless recordkeeping – taxes and financial records)
Secure the electronic data via Cloud base
Purchase a credible Cybersecurity
Access to physical currency
Set aside cash in multiple places (at workplace and home)
Place cash in a secured mobile/secured safe
Contact list
Laminated sheet of paper with
Emergency numbers
Family numbers
Employees numbers
Vendor numbers
Client numbers
Sources
(n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2020, from https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/prepare-emergencies
Adam.Smith@noaa.gov. (n.d.). Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters: Time Series. Retrieved from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/time-series
Umair Irfan, B. (2017, December 28). Megadisasters devastated America in 2017. And they're only going to get worse. Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/12/28/16795490/natural-disasters-2017-hurricanes-wildfires-heat-climate-change-cost-deaths
Small Business Disaster Preparedness Resources.
(n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://core.score.org/disaster-preparedness-recovery
Preparing for a Disaster (Taxpayers and Businesses). (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/preparing-for-a-disaster-taxpayers-and-businesses
Essential Steps to Preparedness. (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2020, from https://www.readyrating.org/How-It-Works/Essential-Steps-to-Preparedness
Business. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2020, from https://www.ready.gov/business
Map
Laminated map of city, county, and state
For more information, contact Chris Cribbs at chris.cribbs@kysu.edu
Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. Kentucky State University, University of Kentucky, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky Counties, Cooperating. 2020 KYSU-CEP-FAC-0069