Orlando, Fla. — Training your employees for everything that comes their way in an effective manner is worth every penny you spend on it.   You train them for basically all aspects of the business, from human resources, strategy and analysis, accounting, sales, marketing and everything else.

How much do you think is worth having your staff trained to be prepared for an emergency. Chances are, with adequate preparation they will be able to succeed in their efforts to protect life and property during the time they spend in your business’ premises.

The time to think about this is precisely now, before the storm and the hurricane season gets active for Florida in June.

The government offer a series of resources to help business owners train their employees and be prepared for:

1. Natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.
2. Health hazards such as widespread and serious illnesses like the flu.
3. Human-caused hazards including accidents and acts of violence.
4. Technology-related hazards like power outages and equipment failure.

As a business leader, there is so much you can do to prepare your organization for the most likely hazards. The Ready Business Program helps business leaders make a preparedness plan to get ready.

Ready Business Toolkits

The Ready Business Toolkit series includes hazard-specific versions for earthquake, hurricane, inland flooding, power outage, and severe wind/tornado. Toolkits offer business leaders a step-by-step guide to build preparedness within an organization. Each toolkit contains the following sections:

• Identify Your Risk

• Develop A Plan

• Take Action

• Be Recognized and Inspire Others

Earthquake “QuakeSmart” Toolkit

Unlike other natural disasters, earthquakes occur without warning and cannot be predicted. Most of the United States is at some risk for earthquakes, not just the West Coast, so it is important that you understand your risk, develop preparedness and mitigation plans, and take action.

Link to QuakeSmart Ready Business Toolkit

Hurricane Toolkit

Many parts of the United States, including Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas, Florida obviously included — parts of the Southwest, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Pacific Coast, Hawaii and and territories in the Pacific may be directly affected by heavy rains, strong winds, wind-driven rain, coastal and inland floods, tornadoes, and coastal storm surges resulting from tropical storms and hurricanes. The Ready Business Hurricane Toolkit helps leaders take action to protect employees, protect customers, and help ensure business continuity as well.

Link to Hurricane Ready Business Toolkit

Inland Flooding Toolkit

Most of the United States is at some risk for flooding, so it is important that organizations, businesses, and community groups understand the potential impacts.

Link to Inland Flooding Ready Business Toolkit

Power Outage Toolkit

While a Power Outage may not seem as dangerous as a tornado or earthquake, they can still cause damage to homes, businesses and communities. Power Outages cost the U.S. economy $20 billion and $55 billion annually and continue to increase each year (CRS, 2012).

Link to Power Outage Ready Business Toolkit

Severe Wind/Tornado Toolkit

It is not just in Tornado Alley. Most of the United States is at some risk for severe wind and tornadoes

Link to Severe Wind Tornado Ready Business Toolkit

There are other non-profit organizations like the Red Cross and Florida Emergency Preparedness Association also known as FEPA, that provide a wealth of information to learn how to manage emergencies. There is a work session scheduled for Florida in the upcoming days and you might want to take advantage of.

FEPA 2018 Annual Meeting and Work Session

When:

February 5-9, 2018

Where:

World Golf Village

St. Augustine, Florida