Organisations Newsletter 3: After the Earthquake

This is the third of four e-mails prior to the ShakeOut and the topic for today is

AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

Apart from the matter of cleaning up any damage, the bigger question will be whether your business can survive the experience. In some cases, where an essential service (eg. a medical facility) is provided the answer is clearly 'yes it will'. In this case the discussion will be largely about how to become effective again as soon as possible. In the case of a private business, the question of speed of recovery maybe secondary to the one about survival at all.

Insurance to cover a major earthquake is common for property and even consumables, but less common for loss of income relating to forced closure. If roads close for many months, manufacturing industries will be unable to transport goods in or out using their usual means. This will either mean a loss of income or the need for an alternative transport plan. Such decision making is best done in 'peace time'.

For some suggestions relating to business continuity see

http://www.ready.gov/business/index.html (this is an American site, but many of the concepts are universal)

http://www.getthru.govt.nz/web/GetThru.nsf/web/BOWN-7H442P?OpenDocument has some NZ specific general advice

and the linked site

http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/memwebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Being-Prepared-Businesses-Index?OpenDocument&menuexpand=beingprepared has some more detail for businesses.

Of course this all follows the immediate aftermath, and in some cases the initial problem may be difficult enough in itself. Many larger insitiutions hold Civil Defence gear in lockers for staff to use in emergencies. The photos below are of one in Victoria Univeristy, but smaller versions of essential supplies could be useful in any size organisation. Note that as well as providing gear for staff, there is a message to promote safe practices at home.

Chris Manuel
West Coast ShakeOut Coordinator
www.shakeout.org.nz

The information in this e-mail is the opinion of the author, after significant research. If you are making decisions based upon it, please take the time to follow the links and check up on the details that will affect your decision. Copies of this and previous e-mails will be available shortly on the website http://www.shakeout.org.nz, so if you have only just registered you can see what you have missed.