We recently experienced a water heater failure just outside my home office. We were gone for a few days visiting our grandkids. A fun trip, but then we returned to a flooded office. The damage repair included having to move everything out of the office. Luckily, none of the electronics were damaged, but it got me to thinking about disaster planning
Unfortunately, planning for disaster is something most of us don’t do until it’s too late. We just think we’ll deal with it when the time comes not really believing anything will actually happen.
Here’s the thing. The unexpected can happen at any time. In your business, or in your personal life it’s prudent to think ahead before the unexpected happens. It’s easier to plan while you are in the right frame of mind before a disaster than trying to figure things out when you are in panic mode after something happens.
So, what kind of planning do you need to do?
Below are 12 things you can do that will prepare you for almost every situation, whether for business or home.
1) Have a checklist. Your list should include items you need to have access to at a moment’s notice, such as contact phone numbers; personnel information; and insurance information. Also, have a safe meeting place location. Equipment to keep up and connected such as a laptop with wireless capabilities or a hot spot.
2) Prepare for risks in advance. Think about disasters ahead of time when you have a calm mind and can think clearly.
3) Get help from disaster experts. Check with your local fire department. Locally it could be WEMA (Wilson County Emergency Management Agency). They will have information to spell out steps you can do to protect yourself. For a business, check with your insurance company, or possibly the small business administration. For IT preparations, check with your IT staff, or company that handles your IT
4) Create an emergency kit. An emergency kit for home might include, prescriptions, or at least a list of prescriptions, bandages, cell phone, money, antibiotic ointment, eye wash, splints, etc. For business, a phone list with the chain of command. If it’s a small business, the owner’s telephone numbers, the office manager, the bookkeeper, an attorney, your computer person or company. A copy of your backups kept in a predetermined location. A designated alternate workplace in case the current workplace is damaged.
5) Assign a recovery team. A recovery team could be people inside or outside of your business. For home, it may be your children, or trusted family friend.
6) Consider communications. If your cell service, phone and internet go down, how do you plan to communicate with everyone?
7) ID critical business (Home) functions. Where are the financials? Where is the equipment that can be used to get you back up.
8) Plan to protect your data. Back up your data online and offline. You have several simple solutions available to you, such as Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive or Apple iCloud. An offline version of your backup, such as an external hard drive or flash drive, is especially important if the internet and cell service goes down. It is common for these services to go down for several days after a disaster, for example a tornado, flood, fire, mass shooting,
9) Document your equipment ahead of time. If you have an IT person or company, make sure they have documentation for your computers, routers, printers, modems, telephones, switches, etc.
10) Get ready for recovery. Make sure all systems are a go – verify that your plan will work.
11) TEST IT! An untested plan is almost as bad as no plan.
12) Review your disaster plan! Every six-months to a year, review your plan and update personnel files, phone numbers, new business addresses, prescriptions, etc. Make sure everything stays current.
I hope this gives you new insight and makes you think about your disaster recovery plan before it’s too late.
All the best,
Jim Nay
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