If a hurricane tore through your place of business or if a fire burned the building to the ground tomorrow, would you be prepared to salvage your business or would you be forced to permanently close the doors? While natural disasters are obviously disastrous, there are steps you can take to prepare your business to survive if one strikes. Along with the following tips, contact your independent insurance agent for customized advice and references to help you find the information you need to create your emergency plan.
- Pinpoint Potential Problem Areas: It’s good to note if your business is located in an area that is prone to certain weather incidents, such as tornadoes or floods. For this initial stage, it’s recommended that you consult a risk management professional in order to identify risks and also weaknesses in the emergency plan that currently exists at your business so it can be improved.
- Backup Data Regularly: The best way to protect your business’ digital data is to regularly back it up, to both internal and external locations for additional protection. Generally speaking, it’s a simple thing to rebuild a building, but it involves a much greater effort to rebuild your business’ files, if it’s even possible.’
- ‘Create An Emergency Plan’: If your business doesn’t have an emergency plan yet, it’s time to create one. If an emergency does already exist, it’s time to strengthen it and hold a training seminar to refresh your staff on policies and procedures. The plan should include exiting the building, finding a meeting place, protecting records and inventory, communications and reputation damage control.<
Though commercial insurance cannot stop a natural disaster from damaging your place of business, it can provide valuable assistance when it comes time to rebuild. Ask your agent about the benefits of commercial property insurance and business interruption insurance. Call ECI Insurance Agency at (405) 373-2977 for more information on Oklahoma City business insurance.
