The business community needs to prepare for disasters such as severe storms, east coast lows, cyclones, storm surge and localised flooding, heat waves and bushfires. A number of key activities to undertake for your business are listed below. We also encourage you to check out additional advice from the QLD Government Business and Industry sector available here.
Business continuity
- Identify and analyse possible risks to your business.
- Prepare an emergency kit.
- Develop a business continuity plan.
- Consult with local authorities (e.g. QPS, QFES) to obtain relevant information to include in your business continuity plan.
- Regularly review and update your business continuity plan.
- Store a copy of your business continuity plan off-site in a safe, disaster-proof location.
- Pack the laptop and mobile phone(s) with spare batteries, battery bank and chargers.
Staff prepardness
- Consult with staff about the unfolding situation.
- Develop a task list for your staff to carry out in preparation for and during a disaster event and ensure that this is regularly reviewed.
- Develop an evacuation plan for your business.
- Be aware of local evacuation centre locations and preferred evacuation routes.
- Have a list of emergency phone numbers, including staff contacts.
- Ensure staff safety by sending them home when necessary.
Stock and equipment
- Ensure enough stock is on hand to supply customers in the period after the event.
- Identify where equipment and vehicles can be relocated and protected.
- Keep enough spare parts on site to ensure equipment remains operational.
- Plan for extended power outage, including relocating perishable stock to an alternative location.
- Obtain a generator and sufficient fuel supply to support your business after the event.
- Establish reciprocal help arrangements with other local businesses to provide support during and after the event.
Infrastructure
- Check your building is in a sound condition, especially the roof and eaves.
- Trim overhanging branches and remove rubbish located close to your building.
- Clear your property of loose items that could become missiles during extreme winds.
- Treat windows to minimise damage from flying debris (e.g. tape windows or fit them with metal screens or shutters).
- Keep ladders handy for roof access (inside and out).
Insurance
- Check that your insurance is adequate to cover your business in the event of a disaster.
- Check with your insurance company for any preparations you need to make prior to the event.
Business documentation and records
- Identify what data in your business is important to keep (data for processing orders and customer records would be considered high importance).
- Backup your critical data to a portable device and store it in a safe place.
- Identify your computer programs for business continuity (email, accounting, ordering applications) and secure the media (CDs/DVDs) and licences for these.
- Identify what is needed to recover your programs and data (laptops, PCs, servers, internet access) and make provisions for these.
- Locate and pack your critical documentation (e.g. insurance, financial, legal and identification documents) in a portable waterproof container.