October 2025 Newsletter

Severe weather can disrupt any business—whether you operate in a region prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, or winter storms. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), roughly 25% of businesses never reopen after a major disaster, and many that do reopen experience long, difficult recoveries.

A well‑prepared emergency plan can significantly increase your chance of staying operational and recovering quickly. Below is a practical, step‑by‑step approach recommended by FEMA, rewritten here to help business owners understand what to prioritize and how to get started.

🌪 1. Set Clear Goals and Assign Responsibility

Every effective emergency plan begins with clarity. Before building procedures, define what you want your plan to achieve and who is responsible for each part.

Common goals include:

• Protecting employees, customers, and visitors
• Minimizing damage to property, equipment, and inventory
• Resuming operations as quickly as safely possible

Consider forming a small planning team that may include:

• Key management
• Safety officers or supervisors
• An attorney
• An insurance professional

This helps ensure legal, financial, and operational risks are fully addressed.

📝 2. Create the Plan: Identify Risks and Build Procedures

Think through the specific threats your business is likely to face. These may include:

• Physical injuries to employees or customers
• Damage to buildings, equipment, vehicles, or inventory
• Loss of utilities or technology
• Business interruption and lost revenue
• Destruction of important documents and records

Once risks are identified, outline the procedures needed to protect your people and your operations.

Your written emergency plan should include:

Employee roles and responsibilities

Assign staff to appropriate tasks, such as communications, first aid, equipment shutdown, or evacuation leadership.

Evacuation procedures

Create clear, simple maps and instructions. Practice them regularly.

Safety equipment requirements

Document the location and condition of:

• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kits
• Emergency lighting
• Sprinklers or alarms

Data and document protection

Implement remote backups and secure storage for:

• Accounting records
• Legal documents
• Insurance policies
• Client files

Both digital backups and physical copies matter.

Communication plans

Detail how you will update employees, customers, vendors, and clients during and after the event.

Inventory and supplier lists

Maintain an up‑to‑date list of all critical equipment and who can supply replacements quickly.

Operational continuity plans

Outline how essential functions can continue remotely or with a reduced team if your facility becomes inaccessible.

Human Resources (HR) and payroll policies

Define compensation rules for non‑exempt employees who cannot work during business downtime.

Your plan should be thorough but still straightforward and easy to update.