The Problem:
A friend recently said something provocative, “You know, Hawaii is so…fragile.”

She went on to explain how a little bit of rain can slow traffic to a snarl, how severe rains always lead to mud slides and road closures, how oversized trucks and low-level overpasses can turn a H-1 freeway into a parking lot…and how earthquakes can turn off power across the islands for a day.

True, her comments may have been a bit overstated. But still. There are times when Hawaii does seem vulnerable. And as business owners, it’s enough to make us quiver in our boots.

Does your business have a disaster plan?

The Solution:
For us small business owners, a significant disaster can put us out of business. Unlike the big boys, who can spread their risk across several geographic regions and a healthy bank account, we small companies have to face the danger on our own two feet. And having a plan can make a difference between survival and bankruptcy.

So where should you start?

1. Secure your data.
The continuity of your operations significantly depends on your staff’s ability to access ‘good’ data. This means your financials, schedules, contact info for your clients/vendors/clients, inventory management systems, etc. Buying new hardware and software to replace damaged equipment is the easy part. Getting your company’s data up and running is what really counts. If necessary, spend the money on an automated tape backup system. Budget about $2500 for parts and labor. Backup daily and keep a current copy offsite just in case.

2. Know how to get in touch with your people.
Create a contact sheet and be sure it has everyone’s numbers and their friend’s, spouse’s or family member’s contact info on there, too. Remember, when disaster hits, the primary contact info might not be sufficient. You can never have too much info in the event of an emergency.

3. Configure your office for remote access.
There are now several decent and relatively inexpensive solutions for working from home…or anywhere with an internet connection. You can create and edit files, send and receive emails, etc. and you can do it all as if your were right there in the office. Remote access is especially useful in the event transportation is hampered and it’s difficult to get to the office.

4. Lockup your hardware.
Hawaii is a special place. It’s tough to imagine any looting. But still, your servers should be kept in an air conditioned space, off the floor, away from leaks and flooding waters. It’s also wise to physically locked it up so it’s not so easy for anyone to walk off with it.

5. Use surge protectors and UPS
The recent power outage destroyed a lot of hardware in spite of surge protectors. However, it’s prudent to use surge protectors and it’s prudent to use UPS (uninterrupted power supply.) The UPS – which is basically a big battery - comes with surge suppression. Equally important, though, it gives you a limited source of power in the event of power loss so you can safely exit programs and such down hardware. Remember, unplug all devices from the wall after shut down and wait until power is restored before plugging then back into the wall.


For more info on how your can gear up your business for disaster, checkout these sites:
www.redcross.org/services/disaster
www.ibhs.org
www.fema.gov/business
www.OfficeDepot.com/getprepared

Let me know if I can help with anything: help@supergeeks.net.