Being prepared should start with lessons learned from past experiences

2020 was a rough year:

• Record wildfires through much of the Western US
• Above average tornado activity
• Two severe derecho events, one in the Midwest (making the list of billion-dollar events for 2020, second only to Hurricane Laura)
• By the start of December 2020, the year was the most active Hurricane Season in the Atlantic, with 29 tropical or subtropical cyclones, 28 named storms, 12 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes
• And there's been so many more natural disasters since then, all while we were dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. 2023 had almost double the number of severe multi-billion dollar storms in the US than the previous 2 years.

Experts thought that natural disasters including floods, landslides, mudslides and earthquakes would become more common, and they were right. Our need to be prepared is greater than ever because the impacts of these disasters are huge with:

• Lives lost
• Children orphaned
• Homes destroyed
• Businesses ruined and rendered bankrupt
• Governments struggling to maintain a sense of order
• Food insecurity for all or parts of the population

Being prepared doesn't start with being complacent.

Now is not the time to stick your head in the sand, think you're safe and that preparations can be done later. Maybe earthquakes, floods and mudslides aren't common for your area, but what about severe snowstorms that cause highways to be closed for days, or hurricanes that wreak havoc on homes and businesses? How about the power outages and black-outs that happen with ice storms, high winds and wildfires? Yes, these are also natural disasters. Disaster being the key word here.

Being prepared means being ready to execute a response.

Any or all of these events could have disastrous effects on your business and livelihood; particularly if you're not prepared. Smart businesses are ready. They pay attention to current events and read the articles about the effects the rain, snow, mud, ice, and wind are having on the bottom lines of their competitors. These businesses have likely done a Threat Risk Assessment (TRA) and know how these disasters will affect them. They've also done a Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to further determine how this will affect their bottom line and ability to keep operations running successfully.

Furthermore, these forward-thinking companies have taken the next step to work with leading experts like KingsBridge to develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and introduced a BCP software such as SHIELD to their employees - giving everyone 24/7 access to the BCP should it be required.

These prepared companies have made the right choice to be ready for whatever is coming. The signs are all there - disasters can strike any time, anywhere. No one is safe, regardless of socio-economic status or location.

The next question comes down to you. Are you prepared? Have you paid attention to what is going on around you, taken the steps necessary to be ready for the future, prepared as one of the companies that will survive when disaster strikes? For your sake, we hope so. Your employees, customers and suppliers do too.