Risk
About
Earthquakes
What are my risks?
Mitigation
What can I do
at home?
What can
I do at work?
Local Earthquake Mitigation
Activities
Construction
Guide
Preparation
Are you prepared?
Weather Advisories
Related Links -> |
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:
Links
for additional information are provided at the end of this
page.
Facilities
(Buildings & Equipment)
- Assess your
facility's vulnerability to earthquakes. Ask local government
agencies for seismic information for your area.
- Brace cripple
walls. This is something that skilled homeowners can
probably do on their own. Check with the Public Works Department,
Land Use & Codes Administration at 243-7275 to see whether
you need a permit to do this work. Click
here for additional information.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Purchase a
NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery
backup.
- 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
- Make backup
copies of all critical records such as accounting and employee
data, as well as customer lists, production formulas, and
inventory.
- Keep a backup
copy of your computer's basic operating system, boot files,
and critical software.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Develop an
employee "telephone tree" to rapidly contact employees in
an emergency.
Insurance
- Ask your insurance
carrier about earthquake insurance and mitigation techniques.
- 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.
- Be prepared
for the extraordinary costs of a disaster such as leasing
temporary equipment, restoring lost data, and hiring temporary
workers.
- Don't assume
that, just because it never happened before, it never will.
For
more information you can visit the following websites:
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