The Institute for Business and Home Safety reports that at least one-fourth of all businesses that close as a result of a disaster never reopen. Small or start-up businesses are more susceptible to these statistics because they may not have the knowledge or resources to assess, mitigate and prevent disaster risks or develop a comprehensive recovery and continuity plan. Contact SERVPRO of Ionia & Montcalm to inquire about a Disaster Recovery Profile (DRP) for your business. The Disaster Profile can help your business with preparedness planning by compiling comprehensive information to form an emergency action plan to use in case of a disaster.

Emergencies like fire, smoke, water or vandalism damage will usually strike your facility without warning. Man-made disasters such as security threats and natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods can also occur with little warning. Immediate response in a critical situation can save thousands of dollars in reduced structural and secondary damages and company down time. It may also allow your company to resume normal business operations faster, helping eliminate the many problems associated with extended business interruptions and down time. The quicker your company recovers, the better your chances for getting back to business as usual.

The Disaster Recovery Profile records company inventory ranging from machinery, electronic equipment and valuable documents to data regarding specific building and grounds statistics, contact information and response checklists. A customized company emergency response plan could be a valuable resource for your business that could help bring organization to a very chaotic situation following a disaster. Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes force thousands of businesses to close. In addition to natural disasters are more common disastrous events such as building fires. 25% of the businesses that close following a disastrous situation never reopen.

Although you cannot prevent a disastrous event from occurring, you can be prepared. According to a February 2006 Facilities Management Link online article entitled Effective Business Continuity Strategies and Emergency Planning, “Companies should be planning for the implications of disasters such as power cuts or IT-related problems as well as for the potential loss of not only data and equipment, but also of people and premises.” In an emergency or disastrous situation, the recovery profile can allow your business to focus on the things that matter most, your customers, employees, vendors and business. Help prepare your company or firm for the unpredictable by compiling an emergency action plan. Contact your SERVPRO Professional at 1-800-647-7480 today and demonstrate your commitment to preparedness planning.