Severe weather: Emergency preparedness and response planning

Every business that wants to stay in business should have a plan to prepare for and respond to severe weather and other emergencies. Not having a plan, or having a poorly prepared or misunderstood plan, can lead to disorganized preparation or confused response, with the possibility of harm to employees, facilities, equipment or operations. The highest priority should be employee safety, but it also is important to reduce property damage and economic loss.

Having a plan saves time and focuses energy when facing an imminent crisis, or when responding to one that could not have been foreseen in advance. In addition to planning for severe weather that threatens an entire region, preparedness and response plans can also be created for non-weather-related threats and other hazards that are specific to one business, such as water damage from a leaking or bursting pipe, a small fire or a power outage.