Restoration Insurance Tips: Disaster Planning Mistakes
As a restoration contractor, you specialize in repairing disasters that occur to others. What happens if a catastrophe finds your company ill-equipped and unprepared for a calamity that occurs to your own company?
We've compiled a list of restoration contractors' most common disaster planning mistakes and tips on what your company can do to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Failing to Inform Employees Properly
In our experience of working with restoration contractors on developing risk management and disaster plans, we have found that many companies have at least started on a project or even have a basic one in place. However, many companies fail to inform their employees of their disaster plans or share what they should do in an emergency.
Tip: Be sure to inform all current employees of your disaster plans and integrate them into your new-hire training so they will understand.
Mistake #2: Failing to Prepare Employees
While many companies will address what their employees should do when they're at the office and a disaster strikes, very few companies manage what to do if their employees are at home; for example, does your company have a way for employees to work from home if necessary?
Or, if you have critical employees, like executives, do you know if they have a plan to meet with the other executives in an emergency? Key employees, including executives, should have a way to access company files if stranded at home. Additionally, you may want to consider having homes those employees store extra gasoline at their home to ensure they can make it to any meeting where you need them.
Mistake #3: Failing to Address IT Adequately Needs
Most companies will have some data backup to prepare for a disaster, but how many have addressed how they will use that backup to get their systems up and running again? Do you have the IT staff to get you back up and running quickly? Or, if you use a 3rd party systems administrator do you know how they will respond to your company in an emergency?
Tip: Communicate openly and regularly with your IT Department to ensure all parties have the same understanding before any claim. If you use a 3rd party company for your IT needs, ensure you know how they will get you back up and running.
Mistake #4: Over-Reliance on 3rd Party Information
When disasters strike, most people tend to rely too much on external information to make decisions on getting back up and running. For example, do you know when the power and utilities will return? Or when will you gain access back to your property?
Tip: Your disaster plan should include information on how your business can sustain itself for at least 72 hours without power or access to your office.
