You can add pandemic to the long list of reasons your business should have a continuity or recovery plan.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that between 35% and 75% of businesses do not have a business continuity plan to withstand interruptions from extreme weather, fires, power outages, computer failure, data security breaches and other such disasters. Of those that have such plans, FEMA estimates that one in five spend no time maintaining or adjusting their plans.
The pandemic with all the related safety protocols including mandated closures also is a threat to the livelihood of any business.
Don’t wait until trouble happens. Be proactive and start to research options of how you would be able to get back up and running as quickly as possible. Here are links provided by Washington Retail to more information:
- WA Emergency Management – business preparedness forms and checklists
- RS SafetyTV – videos on business continuity
- RS Safety Library – other related information
- RS webinar – where to start.
Magento Commerce also is offering visitors a free checklist of considerations to include in your business recovery plan. It covers a list of essential considerations including identifying threats to your business, understanding the potential impacts, creating a recovery plan, establishing response teams and processes for distributing the plan including electronically to all of your employees to ensure a coordinated response.
Rick Means is Washington Retail’s Director of Safety and Education who is available to help members draw up safety plans and to share ideas for safety meetings. Rick can be reached at 360-200-6454 or [email protected]
