Ensuring Business Continuity in Emergency

4/8/2024 (Permalink)

Retail Store After a Fire

The Importance of Emergency Preparedness

Disasters can strike at any moment, leaving devastation in their wake. For businesses, the consequences can be dire. It's estimated that around 50% of businesses that close due to a disaster, such as fire or flood, never reopen their doors. However, with proper preparation and planning, many of these closures could be avoided.

Here To Help

SERVPRO of Marietta West understands the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Over the years, we've partnered with numerous businesses in the area to help them develop comprehensive emergency response plans. These plans are crucial for minimizing damage and ensuring a swift recovery in the event of a disaster.

How Many Fires Are There?

Consider this:  In 2022 an estimated 1.5 million fires reported across the United States. These fires resulted in a staggering $648 million in property damage. What's more, fire damage tends to be more severe after normal business hours, with fires occurring between 9 PM and 5 AM causing an average of $75,000 in damage. Clearly, having a plan in place to respond to emergencies can make a significant difference in the outcome.

Emergency Plan

Despite the risks, many businesses are unprepared for emergencies. Shockingly, more than 60% of small businesses in the US do not have formal emergency response plans, and they fail to back up their data off-site. This lack of preparedness can have serious consequences. In fact, 80% of companies that fail to recover from a disaster within one month are likely to go out of business altogether. Similarly, 75% of companies without a business contingency plan fail within three years of a disaster.

Data Loss

Data loss is another major concern for businesses. Seventy percent of small businesses that experience significant data loss go out of business within a year. And for those that suffer catastrophic data loss, the outlook is even bleaker—43% of companies never reopen, while 51% close within two years.

What Can You Do?

So, what can businesses do to protect themselves and ensure they're prepared for emergencies? The key is to have a comprehensive emergency ready plan in place. Here are some tips for creating a successful plan:

1. Seek professional assistance: Work with an emergency restoration company to develop your emergency ready profile. These professionals have the expertise and experience to help you create a plan tailored to your business's specific needs.

2. Identify utility shut-off locations: Make sure you know where to find and how to shut off utilities like electricity, gas, and water in case of an emergency.

3. Know your local emergency contacts: Keep a list of important contacts, including fire, police, and hospital personnel, readily available.

4. Establish internal contacts: Designate key personnel within your organization who will be responsible for coordinating emergency response efforts and authorizing necessary actions.

At SERVPRO of Marietta West, we offer the SERVPRO® Ready Plan—a tool designed to help property managers and owners create their emergency ready profile. Our highly trained technicians are available 24/7 to respond to any size disaster, providing expert restoration and cleaning services. With SERVPRO of Marietta West by your side, you can rest assured that your business is prepared to handle whatever comes its way.

Don't wait until it's too late—contact us today to learn more about how we can help protect your business and ensure its continued success. Remember, when it comes to emergencies, it's always better to be safe than sorry.