With the East Coast and Gulf states heading into the teeth of hurricane season — officially the period runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 — it is vitally important for business owners to develop a plan in preparation for these natural disasters. Being prepared for a business disruption is the single most critical step you can take to protect yourself and your organization. 

As stated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to be above-normal with the possibility that it could be very active. The conditions in place now are similar to those that have produced many active Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995, including above-average Atlantic sea surface temperatures, according to NOAA’s Web site. 

There are a number of online resources available for small business owners who want more information about putting together and adopting a disaster relief plan. For instance, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is teaming up with Agility Recovery, a provider of business continuity and disaster recovery solutions, to present a free Webinar series aimed at informing organizations on the need for business preparedness. 

This is the ninth consecutive year SBA and Agility Recovery have offered the program, a three-phase preparation plan that focuses on protecting property, safeguarding employees, and protecting your assets. Following is a glance at the series’ installments, each of which will be held 2 to 3 p.m. (ET): 

Wednesday (Sept. 11)
Protecting Your Organization by Preparing Your Employees
Register: http://agil.me/npmwebinar1A
Learn best practices for helping your employees prepare themselves and their families for a crisis. 

Sept. 18
The NEW 10 Steps to Preparedness – Lessons from The Past
Register: http://agil.me/npmwebinar2A
Hear the Top 10 ways to prepare any organization for interruptions based on recent disasters like the Moore Tornado, the Boston Marathon Bombing and Super Storm Sandy. 

September 25
Crisis Communications for Any Organization
Register: http://agil.me/npmwebinar3A
Discuss best practices for developing your emergency communication strategy, including lessons from previous communication failures, the role of social media in crisis communications, and developing a comprehensive communications strategy. 

A business does not have to be based along the Eastern Seaboard or directly on the Gulf of Mexico to encounter economic consequences when a hurricane hits. If any of your clients, suppliers or remote contractors lives or works in hurricane range, your business could be negatively impacted by a storm. The ability to immediately implement a disaster preparedness plan — be it for any type of natural calamity or other catastrophe — can make the difference between remaining in business or not.

Consider this story I reported that featured Alarm Protection Services (APS) in Metairie, La. It’s worth checking out to revisit how this security provider learned hard lessons about disaster planning and the benefits it reaps in being able to react quickly to service its clientele.

Rodney Bosch | Managing Editor

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