TRANSCRIPT: Preparedness for Businesses.

Hello. My name is Nick Crossley. I’m the assistant director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for Johnson County, Kansas. Today, I’d like to talk to you about preparing your business for emergencies.

Careful planning now will help you get your business back in operation more quickly after any type of disaster — from fires to floods, or tornadoes to terrorist attacks.

First, consider your risks. Here in the Greater Kansas City area, we know we’re at risk from tornadoes, flooding, ice storms and many other types of natural disasters. Even a relatively short power outage can have a big impact on your business. And in this day and age we all have to think about the potential for terrorist attacks.

Think about which personnel, procedures and equipment will be absolutely necessary to keep your business functioning, and how you would handle each type of emergency.

Make a list of your important customers, suppliers and others that you interact with regularly. Involve them in your planning — and find out what emergency plans they have in place to keep things going.

Include employees in your planning process. Your employees and coworkers are your most valuable asset, and communication is extremely important before, during and after a disaster. Designate key contact people and develop phone trees or other means of communicating with staff if your building isn’t accessible or your computer network is down.

Encourage your employees to have emergency supply kits to meet their personal needs, and keep some basic supplies on hand — things like batteries, an all-hazard alert radio, flashlights, a first aid kit, and bottled water. Have plastic sheeting and duct tape available in case a chemical spill requires you to shelter-in-place for a short time.

In some circumstances, you and your employees might have to leave your building quickly. Make — and practice — an evacuation plan.

There are many other things to consider as you prepare your business for emergencies — insurance coverage, utility disruption, security, information technology and more.

Your city or county emergency manager can provide more information and help you plan to keep your business in business.