Financial Preparedness for Businesses

Warm relationships are fundamental in day-to-day business -- In disaster, they are vital.  Nowhere do relationships count more than between business owners and their bankers. 

It is not enough to have a business checking, reserve account and even a loan, if you are merely an account number to your banker.

96-Hour Emergency Kit

NOTE:  I recommend carts/wagons/dollies, not back-packs, to transport a 96-hour kit on foot.  But DO pack supplies in back packs/bags instead of putting items loose in cart/wagon.

Water:  1 gallon/person/day for 4 days weighs over 33 lbs.

Sanitation: Toileting supplies for the individual and family. Vital for family and public health.

Food:  Snacks are easiest, but think how comforting a warm meal of some kind would be.

Mess Gear: Necessary if planning on meals, even as basic as cereal.  Not needed for snacks.

Insurance for Business Resiliency

Insurance premiums present challenging decisions for business. There are so many certain, reoccurring expenses that press the bottom line, making it very difficult -- especially for smaller businesses -- to spend for “maybes.”

We are accustomed to paying auto premiums as the most practical way to provide required financial responsibility, in order to operate a motor vehicle.

Employee Training

Trained employees can be the difference between life and death in a disaster – particularly one of catastrophic magnitude.

In such an event, first responders – police, fire fighters and EMTs – are not available to residences or individual businesses.  Their priorities are pre-determined to help hospitals, infrastructure, care facilities and the like.  We are on own until additional help arrives – most of the time from out-of-state.

Workplace Emergency Supplies Cache

It is not unlikely that a major disaster, strong enough to interrupt infrastructure – including our roadways -- could strike during the workday, requiring that you and your employees, shelter-in-place for a period of time. 

What can you do now to prepare for that eventuality?  Approach your planning from the viewpoint that all utilities will be 100% unavailable.