Its All In The Planning - Surviving Disaster

ITS ALL IN THE PLANNING - PREPARING FOR THE UNTHINKABLE* Make it clear who needs to do what, and who takes responsibility for what.* Appoint deputies for key roles.* Use checklists that people can follow easily.* Include clear, direct instructions for the crucial first hour after an incident.* Include a list of things that do not need to be considered until after the first hour.* Agree how often you will check your plan to ensure it is always a “living document”. Update it to reflect changes in personnel and in the risks you may face.* A good plan will be simple without being simplistic. You can’t plan in detail for every event. Remember that people need to be able to react quickly in an emergency; there will be no time to read lots of detail.* Plan for worst-case scenarios. If your plan covers how to get back in business if a flood destroys your building, it will also work if just one floor is flooded.FIVE STEPS TO GET ROUND DISRUPTIONStep 1 Analyse your BusinessStep 2 Assess the RisksStep 3 Develop your StrategyStep 4 Develop your PlanStep 5 Rehearse your PlanPeople to contact who can give you advice: Archival Record Management plc: info@armplc.com AXA Insurance:axa4business.co.uk Norwich Union: nu-riskservices.co.uk The Federation of Small Businesses: contact local branch Institute of Directors: 020 7766 8766Terry Cohen is a director of Archival Record Management plc who looks after the data that other businesses create; in a controlled & safe environment. He can be contacted on 0207 703 3915 or email:tc@londonweb.net

Terry Cohen