Key steps to prepare your business for a natural disaster during COVID-19
Emergency planning can help businesses reduce losses caused by natural disasters and resume operations quickly. The COVID-19 pandemic may require businesses to update disaster preparedness and business continuity planning. Here are five additional steps to consider when preparing your business for a hurricane, wildfire, or other natural catastrophe.
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Check emergency locations for COVID-19 safety.
Evaluate locations where employees may shelter or meet to coordinate your disaster response to determine if there is adequate ventilation and space for social distancing.
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Update emergency supply kits.
Emergency supply kits include essentials such as non-perishable food, bottled water, a flashlight, and a first aid kit. The CDC now recommends including additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus—such as face masks and hand sanitizer. (For an emergency kit checklist, visit Ready.gov.)
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Secure facilities safely.
Help employees prevent the spread of COVID-19 as they work to secure facilities. Allow time and space to enable social distancing and provide the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for the task.
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Anticipate limited support and services.
Contractors and first responders who would normally assist in your disaster response may be delayed or unavailable because of circumstances relating to COVID-19.
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Plan for remote communications.
Because of COVID-19, you may need to establish a virtual rather than an onsite emergency communications center. Keep in mind that disasters may knock out phone and internet service, so consider back-up plans for communications and technology failures.
Include COVID-19 safety precautions in your business continuity plan
Businesses can speed their recovery from a natural disaster by having a business continuity plan that lays out the steps for bringing operations back online. When reviewing your plan, you may also want to consider the following:
- Who is on the recovery team? If there are individuals who may be more vulnerable to the virus, consider finding alternative representatives who are at lower risk of becoming severely ill.
- Do you need to take additional onsite precautions? Some preparedness or damage repair measures may require employees to be onsite. Help prevent exposure to COVID-19 by enabling social distancing and taking additional steps recommended by the CDC.
- Will there be delays in getting equipment and supplies? You may need to build extra time into your planning to accommodate supply chain disruptions resulting from COVID-19. Consider storing backup equipment and supplies offsite.
Additional disaster preparedness resources from Chubb
Learn more about preparing your business for a natural catastrophe:
- Is Your Company Prepared for a Hurricane?
- 5 Steps to Develop and Activate a Flood Emergency Response Plan
- How to Prepare for a Wildfire and Keep Your Business Running
This document is advisory in nature and is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional insurance advisors in maintaining a loss prevention program. It is an overview only, and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your insurance broker, or for legal, engineering or other professional advice.
Chubb is the marketing name used to refer to subsidiaries of Chubb Limited providing insurance and related services. For a list of these subsidiaries, please visit our website at www.chubb.com. Insurance provided by ACE American Insurance Company and its U.S. based Chubb underwriting company affiliates. All products may not be available in all states. This communication contains product summaries only. Coverage is subject to the language of the policies as actually issued. Surplus lines insurance sold only through licensed surplus lines producers. Chubb, 202 Hall's Mill Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-1600.
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