Are you prepared for a disaster? If your area or business is struck by a hurricane, flood or fire, your level of preparedness can make the difference between surviving and succumbing - both in a personal and in a business sense. To help you prepare, the federal government includes a variety of useful tips and ideas on their Ready Business website, part of the ready.gov emergency planning site.

Write a Plan
A written emergency plan can help everyone to understand what to do if disaster strikes. The plan should include details of how you will communicate with customers and with employees during and after the occurrence. Involving employees in creating the plan will accomplish two goals: employees who contribute to the effort may be more likely to support it and remember what to do, and the plan itself will benefit from the input of front-line employees. They may be in the best position to say what will be needed and how to accomplish it.

When creating your written plan, don't overlook any special needs employees. Engage them in the process, and ask them what they may need. For example, employees who are unable to walk will need help evacuating, and those who are hearing-impaired will require visual warnings.

Communication is Critical
Communication is one of the most important needs following an emergency. Employees need to know when and how to contact you. For instance:

Set up a telephone call tree;
Create a password-protected page on the company website;
Use an email alert system;
Set up a call-in voice recording;
Establish an out-of-town phone number where employees can leave a message letting you know that they are okay, in case the disaster is far-reaching.

Include the phone number, website address, and other pertinent emergency information on a wallet card employees can carry with them.

Who's In Charge?
Employees need to know who is providing accurate information following an emergency. Designate staff members who will have that responsibility, and make sure employees know who they are. Top company executives should have all relevant information about employees, customers and vendors.

Let Them Know
Once you have created an emergency preparedness plan, make sure employees know about it. Use your company newsletter or website (or both) to remind them about it often. Of course, employees will want to make sure their own families are safe, and the ready.gov site offers a Family Emergency Plan that can help. By including that information in your emergency preparedness communications, employees will know you care about them and about their families.

Getting Back to Normal
Once the disaster has passed, it is important to the well-being of you and your employees to resume routines as quickly as you can. By preparing in advance, you have likely made that easier. Ready.gov suggests that you take some measures to help employees in the aftermath of an emergency:

Encourage adequate food, rest and recreation;
Provide for time at home to care for family needs;
Have an open door policy that facilitates seeking needed care;
Create opportunities for employees to talk about the experience;
Alleviate fears about family needs by assuring employees you haven't forgotten them;
Provide professional counselors; and
Limit exposure to television, radio and other external stressors once the need for emergency instructions has passed.

Be sure you don't neglect yourself, either. Leaders tend to experience additional stress after a disaster, and your personal health is important to both your business and your family.

For additional Information, please click here http://www.ready.gov/business/