Top Ten Tactics to Boost Preparedness

Organize for Success® Turns 10

In honor of 10 years of business for Organize for Success®, I will be posting a "top 10" list to this blog each day through Wednesday, May 31st. Each Sunday, my team will randomly select from those who commented on the prior week's "top 10" blog posts for a gift card giveaway and free download of one eBook from OrganizeForSuccess.biz/shop. The grand prize package for celebrating Organize for Success, LLC's 10 years in business will be awarded on Thursday, June 1st, randomly selecting from all those who commented on any of the month's "top 10" blog posts as well as those who have subscribed to my eNewsletter for a winner to receive downloads of all 5 eBooks, a pass for my Stress and Time Management online video course as well as a 60-minute productivity consultation via video conference.

As this is Hurricane Preparedness Week, let's cover my top ten tactics to boost preparedness:

10. Determine what types of disasters are possible for your area. Anyone is susceptible to thunderstorms with lightening, data issues or terrorism, but consider what else. What is your risk for hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, geological events and winter storms? Only when you know your risks can you plan well.

9. Prepare for potential power outages. When you know a natural disaster is headed your way, fill up your gas tank, and visit your bank's ATM for extra cash. Be sure to charge your mobile devices fully and, then, try these steps for conserving battery consumption. Keep extra batteries on hand for flashlights you'll use during night-time power outages.

8. Prepare for a fire. Locate your fire extinguisher and learn how to operate it. Find out where your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are located; mark on your calendar to regularly replace their batteries and learn which sounds indicate what.

7. Prepare for an evacuation. Decide where you will go and who should be contacted should you have to evacuate. Make a list of what essential equipment must be taken from your business' premises at that time. Cull together the items from your home that you need to grab when leaving and keep them in a quick-grab bag.

6. Familiarize yourself with necessary responses. Learn and practice how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at your main switches or valves. Take training in first aid and CPR; if your office includes researchers using primary human materials, components and products, include BBP training.

5. Prepare your business for data issues. Make sure your business uses a hosted exchange server. Utilize hosted VoIP for your business' telephone needs. Download apps from the web, rather than installing them directly by CD or the manufacturer, which will more seamlessly enable updates to the latest versions. Save important information to a cloud storage solution, including the vital information listed here. Finally, be sure to create and implement a cybersecurity strategy, which will ensure your company has appropriate virus protection and is not as susceptible to hacks.

4. Prepare for your digital afterlife. List the virtual assets that should be in your digital estate plan. Update your Power of Attorney to include language specifically allowing your designated contacts to access your virtual assets. Clearly communicate how you'd like your sentimental items, financials and virtual assets with value to be handled when you die or if you are incapacitated, preferably creating a Virtual Asset Instruction Letter with your legal representation. Be strategic in communicating your desired next steps for handling your social media profiles. Create a technology toolbox to aid your heirs in facilitating your desires. If you'd like step-by-step instructions, click here to purchase my eBook entitled "Prepare for Your Digital Afterlife".

3. Pack your disaster supplies kit. If it is unsafe to go out, you might be stuck at work or your home for an extended period of time; make sure you have the necessary supplies. Click here for items to be included, and, then, start accumulating what you need, storing them somewhere easily accessible yet secure. For more about what you need, click here for a video description.

2. Sustain contact records so they are always up-to-date. Your business will need to send notifications to customers, vendors and employees alike; meanwhile, you'll want to update important friends and family members. Therefore, you will want to save time and hassles by making sure you have the most accurate phone numbers as well as email addresses to reach each of these partners in any emergency situation.

1. Create your communication plan. Establish from where employees can obtain important updates during an emergency situation, especially when and where to return to work if there is a satellite or back-up location as well as how they should expect payroll to be facilitated. Include what details need to be communicated to your clients or prospects and in what timeframe. Likewise, make sure your household is clear about how and when to provide status updates to one another.

Bonus - Have your plan documented. Keep your business' policies and procedures in writing to be accessed from anywhere at anytime. Upload them to the cloud so folks can access the necessary information during an evacuation or relocation. Then, be sure to review your plans and supplies every 6 months. Things change, and you'll want to incorporate updates as needed.

What steps do you take to prepare for emergencies? Are there any here you will or should take action to implement?