3 Tips to Prepare Your Business for a Natural Disaster
One way to avoid being dependent on overwhelmed utility crews to restore electricity is to install an on-site backup generator and/or solar panels that can turn on the lights and power network components even when the grid is down. Solar panels do double duty and offer extra value in times of nondisaster. Keep them producing even when you're running off the grid and in many cases you can sell the electricity generated back to your local utility company for a profit.
3. Have pre- and post-disaster protocols in writing before a threat arises. Disaster prevention and recovery plans do no good if the people responsible for carrying them out aren't well-versed in shutdown and reboot procedures, as well as the equipment they affect. Instead of randomly assigning and carrying out tasks, create a handbook with detailed instructions for employees who are responsible for prep and restoration, then practice until everyone is completely confident in their respective tasks.
Instead of grouping all procedures together in one overwhelming document, break checklists and protocols down into specific, intuitive stages to reduce confusion and ensure that no tasks are overlooked or misunderstood. Try using subsections like pre-disaster shutdown (powering down, labeling, and protecting or relocating equipment), pre-disaster equipment check (checking batteries, forwarding phone numbers, locking up backup tapes and software), post-disaster reboot (inspecting equipment, setting up computers, testing connections and starting generators) and testing/returning to normal (getting individual workstations ready for use again).
Nicolas Dubus is the IT director at CableOrganizer.com, an online retailer of electrical, telecom/datacom/networking, home theater, cable and wire management products.
