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Judy Artunian

Guide to First Response After a Disaster

Take immediate action to minimize a disaster's impact on your company

By Judy Artunian, Freelance Writer

The hours after a disaster strikes are the most crucial. Whether you're dealing with a waterlogged office or a building rocked by an earthquake, the decisions you make immediately after the disruption can make or break your company's future. By making safety your top priority and knowing where to turn for help, you can get your business back on its feet.

Important steps that will give you a head start in recovering from a disaster:

  1. Your first step should be to make sure that everyone in your facility is safe. That could mean moving people out of the building and shutting off the electricity, water and gas.
  2. Report any loss or damage to your insurance company right away.
  3. Don't return to the building until inspectors have declared it safe.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Take immediate action

Find out what you can do right away to minimize loss and injury.
I recommend: The Federal Emergency Management Agency tells you what to do in the first 48 hours after any disaster. Learn about important actions you need to take after a flood, fire, earthquake and other disasters.

Find out the latest weather and travel conditions

A natural disaster or terrorist attack can bring road and air travel to a halt. Before you decide to transport your equipment, furniture and business documents to another location, make sure you can make the trip.
I recommend: The National Weather Service provides weather updates and emergency weather warnings. The Federal Highway Administration tells you which roads are closed or clogged. The Federal Aviation Administration gives you updates on airport closings and delays.

Retrieve your computer files

Your computer hardware may look smashed, broken or burned, but don't assume that all of the data on your hard drive has disappeared.
I recommend: Data recovery specialists such as ADR Data Recovery, a nationwide service, can provide emergency, on-site data recovery. Geeks On Call can also help you with data recovery as well as other computer-related problems that can disrupt business.

Locate temporary office space

Your office may be uninhabitable for days, weeks or months. If you can't operate out of your home, look into temporary facilities.
I recommend: At Search Office Space America you'll find listings of temporary office quarters that are available throughout the United States.

Ask a disaster recovery specialist to take-over

If a disaster has devastated your business, you'll probably need help reassembling your company. Call in a firm specializes in helping businesses through that process.
I recommend: Agility Recovery Solutions provides everything from power generators to mobile offices to keep businesses running.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Be ready to document the post-disaster damage for your insurance company. Photograph and videotape structural damage to your facility as well as damage to business equipment and materials.
  • Beware of people who attempt to take advantage of disaster victims. Check the credentials of anyone who approaches you with offers to help you with repairs or office clean-up. If you suspect a scam, report it to the Better Business Bureau.
  • Give employees, and yourself, time to recover from the emotional trauma of enduring a disaster. Assess whether your business really does need to be up-and-running tomorrow. If you can take a more methodical approach to recovery, your business is likely to rebound more quickly.

The official source of First Response After a Disaster is
the Disaster Insurance page at Business.com

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Recommended Solution Providers

Sungard: Keeping People Connected and Informed
Offers a complete solution for keeping you up and running despite unplanned interruptions to your business.

Disaster Survival: Business Continuity Planning
A California-based service that guides you as you develop your business continuity/disaster recovery plans. If you have previously created business continuity plans, this service helps audit and update your plans by identifying gaps and recommending enhancements consistent with best practices in the industry.

Cotton: Commercial Services
In the disaster recovery industry, this provider appreciates that your down time can mean lost income and possibly lost businesses as well. Speed is a therefore the top priority for this service, along with thorough and professional execution.

InStar: Business Recovery Services
With the mission to be the premier provider of nationwide service in the disaster response and property restoration industry, this company offers a full complement of recovery services through a network of 24 regional offices.

Business Contingency: Disaster Recovery and Support Services
This site assures your organization is can recover from disaster by working with you to implement specialized training.

AmerTech: Restoration Services
On-site restoration of contents and structures from fire, smoke and water damages, hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. 24-hour emergency response. Includes consulting, project management, and microbial contamination. Certified thermal imaging experts.

Agility Recovery: Get Back to Business
There are thousands of things that can disrupt your business. Use this service to help your small business overcome those things.

Best Sites to Learn More

Disaster Recovery: Recovery Planning From A-Z
This guide to disaster recovery planning is intended to be a launch pad for those seeking help with the business continuity planning process. It offers information, guidance, tips, and links to a range of resources.

Disaster Resource: The Online Business Continuity Source
The online disaster resource guide is set up to help you find information, vendors, organizations and many resources to help you prepare for or recover from any type of natural or other type of disaster. This guide will help keep your business running,

Ready: Continuity Planning
How quickly your company can get back to business after a terrorist attack or tornado, fire or flood often depends on emergency planning done today

Microsoft: Small Business Center
For your small business, there's a great deal you can do about disasters. To get your business back on its feet quickly, this site includes tips to better protect your business and, if damage occurs, what you can do to speed your recovery.

FEMA: Recovery and Rebuild
Learn what to do after specific disasters with links to guides and information that will help your small business.

Red Cross: Disaster Guide
Disaster recovery begins before a disaster. No business should risk operating without a disaster plan. Learn what to do.

IBHS: Business Protection
Request free copies of disaster recovery guides and control the destiny of your small business following a disaster.

Best Blogs and Forums

Rothstein Associates: Disaster Recovery Forum
This forum is intended as a vehicle for business continuity professionals and novices alike to share ideas, experiences or concerns, raise issues, seek assistance or inspiration. Join in any of the topics, or feel free to begin a new one if nothing quite hits the mark.

Disaster Blog: Disaster Recovery and Data Recovery Information
Get tips on ways to recover you data and deal with a disaster.



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