Being a Florida native, hurricanes are not an uncommon thing. I have lived through many hurricanes and have been affected by what they can do to disrupt the world around us, including the business world. Having an emergency plan for your life and business is a must before the emergency happens. There are many ways to prepare for whatever life (or Mother Nature) throws at you; below are a couple of things to remember.

• Back up any digital files weekly. Get in the habit of backing up your hard drive and computer every weekend. You never know when something could happen to your laptop or computer.

 

• Store important documents off the floor. Make sure your documents are in the 2^nd or 3^rd drawer, not the bottom one. Flooding can happen for many reasons. It’s also a good idea to scan and back up very important files digitally.

 

• Plan out your emergency aftermath plan. Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, or blizzard, write out and talk through what to do with your staff. Make sure they know the policy. In these situations, family comes first but be mindful not to neglect your business.

 

• When it comes to insurance coverage, make sure you’re familiar with the terms of your policy. Make sure that you have coverage for whatever the threat (i.e., hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.) may be in your area. How much are you covered for? Do you have a policy for lost business? There are many things to look at in regards to insurance, make sure you are covered for what you need to be covered for.

 

• Remain calm. Emergencies are going to happen, being prepared and remaining calm will make the situation less stressful for everyone.

Having a plan in place for any emergency that could happen will make it easier for everyone on your team (and for your family). Setting this up may take some time but the process of creating an emergency plan should involve everyone on the team and it should definitely be in writing. It’s also important to review this plan as a team at least once a year in case it’s necessary to make revisions. I hope these reminders are helpful as you review your existing emergency plan or create one for the first time.