Spring has arrived early, and so has wildfire season. In fact, on February 20, the Alberta government declared wildfire season had started, more than a week earlier than usual (March 1).
In light of the current drought conditions and wildfire risk in the Peace River Forest Protection Area (FPA), the importance of emergency preparedness also includes businesses. After all, disasters and emergencies can happen at any moment.
Below are some tips to help you prepare your business for emergencies.
An emergency preparedness plan isn’t just for at home, it should be developed for your business as well. If you and your staff are stuck at work, you will need supplies to be self-sufficient for 72 hours.
Some items to include are an emergency contact list for all staff family members, suppliers, and your insurance company, utility/service providers, as well as battery-operated flashlights, a crank/battery-powered radio, blankets, first aid kits, and if possible, a backup power source.
Identify possible alternate business operation locations and determine what services are needed to operate, like remote access to files or programs, computers/tablets, and access to the internet or cell service
Take some time to research what specific hazards pose a threat to your business operations. These can include, but are not limited to, severe storms, flooding, wildfires, severe storms, and prolonged power outages.
From there, assess what vulnerabilities may occur to your staff and customers, your physical assets (building, products, machinery, tech equipment, etc.), and how you will address them. Ask yourself questions like
What risks does my business face and how will it impact my business?
How likely are they to occur?
How can I mitigate/reduce the impact of these risks?
Once you’ve identified your specific hazards, think of additional scenarios that can impact your business and how you will respond. Things to consider can be the risk of burglary, prolonged power, telephone, internet loss, extended evacuation, or loss of property to fire, flood, etc.
Create a list of critical business functions in order of importance and decide what would be reinstated first and what staff, materials, procedures, equipment, etc. will be needed for each.
Consider how you will keep all stakeholders informed during an emergency. Stakeholders include staff, customers, partners, and suppliers. Utilize email, text messages, social media platforms, and your website as avenues to keep people informed.
Stay informed about current situations by following your local municipality on social media, and bookmarking their website.
Additional organizations you may wish to follow on social media, or download available apps, are;
