Hurricane Season Lessons

Lessons learned from last hurricane season.


From ALI-ABA CLE Review, August 25, 2006


"In the aftermath of 2005's tragic hurricane season, it became apparent that disaster preparedness needed improvement and thus spawned a wave of reflection on how better planning might have mollified the severe economic and human impact of the last year's hurricane season.


Those businesses that suffered the least during last year's hurricane season attribute their staying power in part to strong supply chain and logistical planning. Although no business can fully plan for defense against all contingent disasters, these minimal advance planning steps should be considered.


Establish a Disaster Team and Plan


In order to be better prepared for future disasters, companies must establish a Disaster Team and clearly identify its functions. This team should analyze your company's vulnerabilities and hazards, and develop a plan to respond to future catastrophes. Once developed, this plan should be distributed to management personnel and reviewed at least annually to make adjustments to allow for changes in your company's business model as well as to include lessons from most recent catastrophes elsewhere.


Elements of a Successful Emergency Management Plan


Critical elements include personnel training, clear communications procedures, life safety education and planning, security measures designed to protect work-product and property, and regular insurance evaluation to ensure maintenance of the most appropriate policies.


Develop and Maintain Proximate Business Locations


Prepare in advance to open or expand an office in the city physically closest to the disaster-impacted area.


Create and Implement Alternatives to Obtaining Supply and Satisfying Demand


Many businesses literally froze during last year's hurricane season and were unable to obtain necessary products and/or meet the increased (or ordinary) demands of their customers. Some, however, had established contingency plans and, although slowed, were relatively speaking able to continue business-as-usual.


Communication


Companies should establish and publish an Internet link or call-in telephone number for both employees and customers to call in another area code in the event of a disaster. Employees should be required to provide a landline telephone number of a relative or friend who is located out of state and who will know how that person may be reached after the disaster.


Computer Preparedness


If time permits, crucial hard files should be packed and carried out prior to the onset of the anticipated disaster. If time does not permit, consider boxing those files in locations away from windows. Ensure that your company's IT personnel maintain and update either modifications to the company's existing website and/or a new link with disaster updates and effective communications on how service providers can be reached and a timeline for the continued provision of services.


Adaptation


Maintain maximum flexibility, and adapt to unanticipated consequences after the disaster. Customers, clients, and even competitors, those directly impacted, and those less so, generally will understand and sympathize with your company's predicament and disaster-related challenges and working through those issues together may serve to strengthen the bond of trust." FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: www.houstonrealtyadvisors.net
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