Most jurisdictions have emergency plans. Ask your local town clerk or first responders for a copy. These will list shelters, contact names, instructions on what to do and how you can become a volunteer in your city or town. Talk with other business owners in the vicinity and plan together if that is possible.

Currently the Pandemic Flu, H1N1 is what you need to be preparing for. In this case sheltering in place, staying at home would be the plan. Businesses may be the last to prepare for lots of reasons. Small businesses may not feel that it is necessary or they may not feel that they have the time to prepare for something that may not happen.

*Encourage employees to have their own plan

Your employees will not be any good to you if they do not have their own personal plans in place.

• Have your important files backed up off site
• Prepare for people being out for long periods of time
• Develop a continuity of operations plan
• Survival supplies if you need to shelter in place
• Devise a phone tree and test it periodically (at least every six months)

Questions to ask when planning:

As you plan, there will be more questions than answers. Plan for what you can and then build on that plan. As topics come along that have not been addressed, add them to your plan.

1. What operations are critical?

2. What will you do if you do not have your current location?

3. Can people work from their homes?

4. How will you ensure payroll continues?

Identify:

• Shippers
• Suppliers
• Other businesses that you have relationships with
• Develop a contact list and keep it updated. A contact list is only current for about 30 days. People move, change their names or die. A list that is outdated does you no good in an emergency.

Exercise: Test your plan. What looks good on paper may not work as well in a real life situation. You can always update or edit a plan. Consider it a living document and one that is never complete.