During this time of year, when it is the hurricane season, there are a couple of things businesses can and should do to protect themselves and minimise disruption to their business.

1. People First
Ensure you have a directory of all staff and their contact numbers and addresses. Make sure they too are prepared and can take care of themselves and their families.

2. Communication
Encourage staff to contact each other after they have taken care of their families, to avoid panic and so that those who are able to help can help those who need it. Use call forwarding so that you can establish contact with staff, clients and suppliers from a number other than your office or business premises.

3. Protect your data
Many businesses survive the disaster itself, but never recover because of lost data and records. Have a back-up; both electronic and hard copy, of:

• All your customers
• Your suppliers
• Orders placed by you with your suppliers
• Recent orders received from your suppliers with copies of invoices for insurance purposes should you need to make a claim. It’s not uncommon/unheard of for insurance companies to refuse payouts because claims can’t be substantiated or corroborated.
• Orders placed by your customers, and most important of all
• Who owes you and whom you owe!

4. Be informed
Listen to local and regional weather reports and plan accordingly. Or you can visit various resources on the Internet such as www.nhc.noaa.gov.

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