Hawaii County

What can I do at work?

It is estimates that 43% of businesses never reopen following a local disaster, such as a hurricane. It is important that business owners take proactive steps to protect their business, because they are a vital part of the community.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) suggest that small business owners develop a Disaster Plan that includes mitigation activities. These activities are divided into the following categories:

• Facilities (Buildings & Equipment)
• Operations
• Critical Information & Communications
• Insurance

Links for additional information are provided at the end of this page.

Facilities (Buildings & Equipment)

1. Assess your facility's vulnerability to earthquakes. Ask local government agencies for seismic information for your area.
2. Brace cripple walls. This is something that skilled homeowners can probably do on their own. Check with the Public Works Department, Building Division at 961-8331 in Hilo and 327-3520 in Kailua-Kona to see whether you need a permit to do this work. Click here for additional information.
3. Restrain appliances and computers. You can protect desktop computers and other small appliances by restraining them in a variety of ways. Check with your local home improvement store or click here for additional information.
4. Move large and heavy objects to lower shelves or the floor. Hang heavy items away from where people work.Check with your local home improvement store or click here for additional information.
5. Anchor bookshelves and filing cabinets. Anchoring furniture so that it remains upright not only helps prevent injuries and helps to keep exits clear, but it also helps protect both the furniture and its contents. Check with your local home improvement store or click here for additional information.

Operations

1. Purchase a backup generator to maintain full operations or critical functions such as refrigeration, lighting, security systems, and computer control in the event of a power failure.
2. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery backup.
3. Have back-up vendors and shippers in place in case your primary ones are disabled. Set up relationships in advance and maintain them.

Critical Information and Communication

1. Make backup copies of all critical records such as accounting and employee data, as well as customer lists, production formulas, and inventory.
2. Keep a backup copy of your computer's basic operating system, boot files, and critical software.
3. Store a copy of all vital information on-site and a second in a safe off-site location. Make it a critical part of your routine to regularly back up files.
4. Make pre-arrangements with computer vendors to quickly replace damaged vital hardware. Keep invoices, shipping lists, and other documentation of your system configuration off-site so you can quickly order the correct replacement components.
5. Maintain an up-to-date copy of phone numbers, computer and Internet logon codes and passwords, employee phone numbers and other critical information in an accessible location.
6. Develop an employee "telephone tree" to rapidly contact employees in an emergency.

Insurance

1. Ask your insurance carrier about earthquake insurance and mitigation techniques.
2. Consider "business interruption insurance" that assists you with operating needs during a period of shutdown. It may help you meet payrolls, pay vendors, and purchase inventory until you are in full operation again.
3. Be prepared for the extraordinary costs of a disaster such as leasing temporary equipment, restoring lost data, and hiring temporary workers.
4. Don't assume that, just because it never happened before, it never will.

For more information you can visit the following websites:

• Small Business Administration
  
  
• Institute for Business & Home Safety
  
  
• FEMA's Step-by Step Guide to Emergency Management for Business & Industry
  
  
• FEMA's Cost Benefit Analysis of Natural Hazard Mitigation