Whats Your Emergency Plan?

 


what if an emergency happens and you are not prepared? What will you regret? Make an Emergency Preparedness Plan today.Dealing with an emergency or a natural disaster

It is unlikely that you would ever have to face a natural disaster, but it would only have to happen once for you to appreciate the life-or-death difference that preparing for one can make. And if you are ready for it, you’ll also be ready for other kinds of emergencies that could happen to you at home, on the road or at your place of business.

A natural disaster can leave a streak of devastation across a large area. A wildfire can burn down a neighborhood full of homes in minutes. A flash flood could wash away farms and drown cars in its wake. A major windstorm can easily blow down trees and electrical wires crushing or electrocuting vehicles and residences. An earthquake can bring a city to rubble.

To prepare yourself, your home or your business, you must first acknowledge the possibility that a disaster could happen. That’s all you need, just the possibility. If that’s not enough motivation for you, think about all the man-made disasters such as gas line explosions, blackouts, electrical fires, bursting pipes, falling objects, riots and other possible destructive events.

This is not an exercise in worry. We’re discussing what you can do to eliminate worries. Get ready. Be prepared. You’ll have peace of mind. So what do you need to do? First and foremost, you’ll need an emergency plan and with it some important items to have on hand.

To create an Emergency Preparedness Plan you’ll need to think, “What if?” So, what if an emergency happens and you are not prepared? What will you regret not knowing or not having at that point?


Here are three simple things you can do now to prepare:

1. Customize your plan. At home, on the road or at your place of business, people are your first priority. And since people have different needs, you ought to prepare for specific considerations. You will need easy access to flashlights, water and medications. Special attention will need to be given to infants; elderly adults; pets; and people with an illness, disability or other special needs. At work, emergency phone numbers and backup systems have to be installed. Write your plan down on paper and share it with everyone who will have a need to know.

2. Practice an escape route. Since surprise is at the very heart of an emergency, having a plan in place for how you and other members of your family or workplace will react in the event of a disaster not only adds to peace of mind, it saves lives. How will you be alerted to a disaster if your electricity is suddenly shut off? Do you have an escape route planned out of the structure you are in, as well as out of town, if necessary? Have you considered how you will notify family, friends or co-workers? If separated, everyone in your plan should know how to contact the Red Cross and log onto its Safe and Well List.

3. Prepare a survival kit. Whether you get locked in or locked out, you will need immediate access to basic supplies, including a three-day supply of non-perishable food and fresh water, a first aid kit, battery-powered light and an emergency radio. Be sure to have on hand the essentials you and yours will need to stay healthy, warm and safe.


These three tips are the minimum amount of preparation needed for your safety and security. If you do nothing else, start on them now, before you forget. Better to think ahead than to regret later!

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Final Thought:

Here’s a good starting point: Buy a good disaster emergency kit. Please make sure members of your household or workplace can get access to emergency light in any room or area they might be in when disaster strikes. Disasters could happen at night. A light will make it possible for you to take quick action.


Connect with your CIG Insurance Advisor to learn more or visit TheProtectorNetwork.com.

Business Risks

An appropriate Emergency Response Plan for a workplace environment will put into place resources and response teams capable of restoring "business as usual" in the shortest length of time following any emergency. Be prepared with policies and implementation plans to meet the following challenges:

  • Ensure the safety of employees and any other personnel on the premises during the emergency.
  • Protect company property and data.
  • Resume operations.
  • Assess damage and chart a path to full recovery of the business.


Three 'Q-Tips' to consider:

Q. Have you trained one or two employees to respond to crisis situations?
Tip: Make sure they are prepared to answer whatever safety-related questions may come up.

Q: Does you business need PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) – safety gloves, jackets?
Tip: If the answer is yes, make sure employees are using it.

Q. Do you have channels of communication in place for your employees?
Tip: Post public notices, send emails and memos to remind them regularly of safety issues.


Five ways to prepare your

business for disaster:

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1. Back up critical data.

Have a plan for backing up essential company information and make sure that employees are backing up important company files. If possible, install a centralized secure server and regularly schedule backups of the server contents — whether to removable media such as CDs or DVDs or by backing up to a remote server. Be sure the backup takes place every day, minimally. Take copies of the backup off-site.


2. Maintain emergency supplies.

Include flashlights, a first aid kit, a set of basic tools, a NOAA weather radio and a supply of drinking water. Keep the supplies in an easy-to-reach drawer or small closets. Notify key people about the location of the supplies.


3. Emergency lighting

Mount lights in strategic places and mark exits and escape routes. Most hardware or building supply stores sell illuminated signs and lights that turn on automatically when power failure occurs.


4. Alternative communications devices

Power interruptions could knock out digital phone systems and Internet connections. An analog phone will continue to operate in the absence of power. Other emergency communications equipment should be considered in case your regular lines go down.


5. Maintain insurance.

Routinely review your insurance coverage; ensure sufficient business insurance to guarantee survival following any foreseeable business interruption.