Business Owners: Plan to Stay In Business

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

We want to keep our local businesses.

Disasters not only devastate individuals and neighborhoods, but entire communities, including businesses of all sizes. As an employer in Champaign or Urbana, having a business continuity plan can not only help protect your company and its infrastructure, but also your employees. Maximize your chances of recovery after an emergency or disaster.

Ready Business asks companies to take 3 simple steps:

• Plan to stay in business
• Encourage your people to become Ready
• Protect your investment

This year we want to emphasize our encouragement with individuals, families, and businesses to take active steps toward becoming Ready. Let’s work together as a team to ensure that our families, businesses, places of worship, and neighborhoods are Ready.

Ready Business, an extension of the Ready Campaign, helps business owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses prepare their employees, operations and assets in the event of an emergency. At Ready.gov/business, companies can find vital information on how to get started preparing their organization and addressing their unique needs during an emergency.

Tips to Help Your Business be Ready

• Update and Distribute Emergency Contact Information to your Employees. Additionally, you can create and distribute a list of important emergency numbers in the areas you do business.
• Organize an Emergency Preparedness Procedures review with employees to review your company’s emergency plans.
• Conduct Office Evacuation/Shelter-in-Place Exercises and Drills. Once completed, evaluate how well they worked and if additional training or exercises are needed.
• Put Emergency Items of Display. Showcase an Emergency Supply Kit in your break room or other high-traffic locations and encourage employees to get their own Emergency Supply Kit for their homes.