Emergency Planning

Emergency Planning 101

An Emergency Action Plan will help you respond during a real time emergency and should include:

An emergency communications plan for all employees, including persons with disabilities and those with limited English language proficiency.
Evacuation plans and emergency escape route assignments.
A list of rescue and medical duties for employees who can perform them.
Procedures for employees who stay behind to finalize critical operations before they evacuate.
Procedures to account for all employees after an evacuation is completed.
Names or job titles of people who can be contacted for further information.

Assess the impact of environmental changes on your facility's accessibility.
Examine the implications of this emergency on your product and service offerings.

Alert customers who are expecting products or services.
Leave a sign on your business door or window with contact information.
Update the recording for your business phone number with information on the situation.
Announce updates on your business website and social media.
Set an auto-response for your business email address.

Ask key employees to help you manage the logistics around recovery.
Inform your employees about the status of your business operations and/or the expected timeframe for resuming normal operations.

Determine if your insurance will cover the damages and expenses incurred.
Assess if your insurance will cover the rental fees of space and equipment needed to immediately resume operations.

A business continuity plan will help your business prepare and recover from a disruption and should include:

A list of activities necessary to run your business, including the steps to complete each activity, required skills (such as training or certification), and the timeline for each activity.
A list of physical items and computer software essential for your business operations, along with the vendor who can provide you with new equipment. Identify alternative ways to continue activities in case the items are unavailable.
A contact list of all employees, including at least one method of after-hours communication to get in touch with employees.
A contact list of all vendors and suppliers that do business with you.
A list of locations where the business continuity plan is stored, ensuring multiple copies of important documents are kept in an alternate location.

Ready New York - NYC Emergency Management preparedness resources
Ready.gov - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency planning tips
Partners in Preparedness - A nationally recognized program that supports organizations in preparing their employees, services, and facilities for emergencies