Disaster Planning Guidelines for Businesses

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Disaster planning (PDF)
View a detailed checklist to help prepare for a potential disaster
Tips to help plan for emergencies:
  • Keep records where they can easily be moved to safety.
  • Prepare a disaster plan for key employees.
  • Identify operations that can be suspended temporarily.
  • Identify basic tools to sustain operations during a disaster and after.
  • Establish a plan to keep in touch with employees.
Tips to meet emergency business cash-flow needs:

  • Take your checkbook and credit cards in the event of evacuation.
  • Keep enough cash on hand to handle immediate needs.
  • Use Internet banking services to monitor account activity, manage cash-flow, initiate wires, pay bills.
  • Issue corporate cards to essential personnel to cover emergency business expenses.
  • Reduce dependency on paper checks to send and receive payments.

For more business continuity planning tips, go to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Web site.

 
The checklist provides details to help businesses:
  • Develop a continuity plan that addresses post-disaster recovery procedures
  • Consider alternative operational locations
  • Equip backup operations sites with critical equipment, data files, and supplies
  • Safeguard property
  • Gather current contact information for employees, vendors, and customers
  • Develop multiple and reliable communication methods to reach employees
  • Communicate details of the plan to employees
  • Let customers and vendors know the business' plan and what to expect from the business
  • Develop a detailed action plan in the event of a mandatory evacuation
  • Prepare for emergency cash management to handle cash flow

"Until 2005, many people believed that preparing for a disaster meant discussing what could happen, in a hypothetical case," said Steve Hemperley, Greater New Orleans Market President for Capital One Bank . "Now, we have a past experience to help guide business preparations. The first thing to do in planning for this year is to ask 'What did we learn?'"

Capital One's TowerNET SM  service—an Internet-based platform for treasury management services —was tested by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and successsfully supported payroll and other operational needs critical to the bank's business clients.

The Capital One Web site allows a business to operate more effectively and efficiently in normal circumstances, or from a remote location in the event of evacuations. Direct deposit, Online Bill Pay, remote deposit and corporate credit cards are just a few of the tools that businesses can explore.

"Every business should have a disaster plan in place that is tailored to its specific type of operations," Hemperley explained. "Specific needs can vary. Businesses that carry an extensive inventory might have one set of issues, while a service business might face different challenges. But, access to money and records is critical to everyone."

View a more detailed business disaster planning checklist (PDF) 

For more information on emergency cash management planning and preparedness for your business, call toll-free 888-822-2274.

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