Business Disaster Recovery #AltusOK #OKready

Business owners invest time, money and resources to get their ventures up and running, but many of them fail to properly plan for disasters. According to the Small Business Administration, an estimated 25 percent of businesses do not re-open after a major incident. Having a functional disaster recovery plan will help owners keep their business operating. 

Agility Recovery offers solutions on how to ensure your business remains resilient and a list of mistakes business owners commonly make when preparing for disasters. Here are a few of the items they say companies should include when planning for the unexpected:

• Anticipate the cost of recovery. Recovering documents and data can often run tens of thousands of dollars. Before disaster strikes, determine what documents you will be required to recover and consider storing them securely off-site or digitally;

• Properly inform and prepare employees. All employees should be familiar with the company’s disaster recovery plan and their role in it. Make the plan part of new-hire training and review it each year with all employees; and

• Test your disaster recovery plan. Many business managers know their data is being backed up, but they have never tried to access it from a different location using hardware at that facility. Testing your recovery plan is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of preparedness programs.      

Company leaders should have a general idea of how long it will take to restore data and the number of people needed to restore business functions. Before starting a disaster strategy, check out the remaining items in Agility Recovery’s “11 Common Disaster Planning Mistakes.”

Do 1 Thing in February

Last month we informed you about “Do 1 Thing,” an exciting web-based program designed to prepare your family for emergencies throughout the year. We hope you were able to participate in the January theme of “Make a Plan.” If not, we encourage you to take part in next month’s theme: “Water.”

Water is an essential element to survival and a necessary item in anemergency supply kit. During the month of February, take action to store three days worth of water for your household.

“Do 1 Thing” offers the following list of ways to achieve this goal:

• Purchase and store a 72-hour supply of commercially bottled water;
• Bottle a 72-hour supply of water at home; or
• Learn how to provide a safe supply of drinking water for your household in a disaster.

By completing one of these actions, you’ll be better prepared for the unexpected.  Also, you will be participating in America’s PrepareAthon!, a national campaign to prepare for hazards specific to your community through drills, group discussions, and exercises. Register your action on thecampaign’s website.  Be counted among the two million preparedness actions already taken by families, businesses, and organizations across the country leading up to National PrepareAthon! Day on April 30, 2015.

Youth Preparedness Council Now Accepting Applications #AltusOK #OKready

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now seeking applicants for its Youth Preparedness Council. The Council supports FEMA’s commitment to involving youth in preparedness-related activities and provides an opportunity for young people to offer their perspectives, feedback and insights on how to help make America more resilient.  

As advocates for preparedness, Council members will complete a self-selected youth preparedness project and have the opportunity to share their opinions, ideas, solutions and questions about youth disaster preparedness with FEMA leadership and national organizations working on preparedness initiatives. Members also have the opportunity to brief FEMA officials on strategies, initiatives and projects throughout their one-year term. 

To apply, applicants must be 13 to 17 years old. They must also be engaged in individual and community preparedness or have experienced a disaster that motivated them to make a positive difference in their community. Adults working with youth or on community preparedness are encouraged to share the application with young people who might be interested in applying for the Youth Preparedness Council. 

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must submit a completedapplication form and two letters of recommendation. Completed applications and all supporting materials must be received no later than March 2, 2015, 11:59 p.m. EST. New Youth Preparedness Council members will be announced in May 2015. 

For more information about completing and submitting the application, please visit: www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.