Resource - BlueSage Disaster Planning

Hurricane

Tornado

Earthquake

Landslide/Debris flow

Civil Disturbance/Strike

Chemical/Hazardous Material Emergency

Cyber Attack

You have indicated that preparing for a hurricane is a priority for you. The key factors in preparing for a hurricane are securing and protecting property, being prepared to evacuate if necessary, and keeping informed of potential hurricanes. The suggestions in preparation for a hurricane can help protect your workplace. Preparing ahead of time is the key. Consider doing a review each year before hurricane season starts.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written hurricane plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

Raise critical contents off the ground and if possible above flood elevation.

Have adequate number of filled sand bags or empty sand bags to be filled as needed to barricade water entry areas.

Be aware of advisories; know the difference between a warning and a watch. See RESOURCES for additional details on watches, warnings, advisories and alerts.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

If you are located in an evacuation zone, know your evacuation routes. If you are unsure contact your local emergency management office. Get an estimate of travel times on evacuation routes and anticipate that there may be heavy traffic. Post evacuation routes.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Prepare a plan how you will communicate with employees and family members during and after an event. Often text works better than phone calls. See RESOURCES for additional emergency communication tips.

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

Sign up for your community warning system and learn how to connect to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio which provide emergency alerts. See RESOURCES for Quick Links.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

Fuel vehicle tanks.

Turn off all utilities.

Do not hesitate to act. Declare an emergency in advance so there is time to put your plan into action.

Give employees time to evacuate so that they can get home or to a safe location.

Do not stand near glass windows or near anything that could fall.

Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Six inches can make a car lose control. One foot can float a car. Two feet of running water can carry a car away.

The designated team leader should try and stay in communication with all employees till they are in a safe location.

Be aware of exposed power lines.

Do not return till it is safe. Find out if local Authorities confirmed your area is safe.

Avoid driving or walking through water, they may be hidden sinkholes and the water may be deeper than it looks. There may also be hidden debis.

When returning to your workplace, use extreme caution especially if there is wind and water damage. There may be hidden damage that is not obvious to you. If there is any question, have a profession come in to confirm you work place is safe.

Contact your insurance company.

Cover any area susceptible to water with tarps.

Clean water and muddy areas. To handle this properly a professional restoration company may be the best alternative.

When possible have air conditioners and dehumidifiers running to help pull moisture out of the air.

If your computers have come in contact with water do not turn them on. Contact a company that specializes in restoring computer equipment.

You want to make sure both electronic and hardcopy documents and files are intact. If they have been damaged a restoration company can clean them and prevent mold. Loss of computerized data can be disastrous for your company.

If you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and it appears they may have been damaged, call them in to do maintenance.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

Account for all your employees

Be aware of exposed or fallen power lines

Use a flashlight and not matches and lighters in case there is a gas leak or ruptured fuel line nearby

Stay away from damaged roads, bridge, and building.

Stay informed

Hurricane warnings indicate that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph), the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds to allow for important preparation.

During a hurricane warning, complete storm preparations and immediately leave the threatened area if directed by local officials.

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible within the specified area. A hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds in an area.

During a hurricane watch, prepare your home and review your plan for evacuation in case a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued. Listen closely to instructions from local officials.

NOAA

HURRICANE CATEGORIES

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

Category	Winds (MPH)	Knots	Storm Surge (Ft)	Damage
1	74-95	65-83	4-5	Extensive
2	96-110	84-95	6-8	Devastating
3	111-130	50-57	9-12	Catastrophic
4	131-156	114-134	13-18	Catastrophic
5	157-181	69- 81	19-26	Catastrophic
6	182-207	82-92	27-34	Catastrophic
7	208 Plus	93 Plus	35 Plus	Catastrophic

The most important job you have in preparing your business for a tornado is to make sure you have a tornado safe room or shelter that meets FEMA guidelines. The safe room or shelter must be large enough to fit all your employees and guests. See the resource section for the link to FEMA’s guide. Remember, there is little warning so you must plan ahead. If you rent space or are in an office building, request that your landlord or building operator identify a secure safe room or shelter within your facility. The suggestions in preparing for a tornado can help protect your employees and workplace.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written tornado plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

If you do not have a safe room or shelter, talk with your landlord or building operator about building one. However, in the meantime, identify the safest area in the building to protect your employees which usually is the lowest level and near the center of the building. See Resource Section under Earthquake Alert Quick links: FEMA Safe Room Recommendations.

Be aware of advisories; know the difference between a warning and a watch. See RESOURCES for additional details on watches, warnings, advisories and alerts.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Prepare a plan how you will communicate with employees and family members during and after the event. Often text works better than phone calls. See RESOURCES for additional emergency communication tips.

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

In all cases ALWAYS stay away from windows.

Move quickly to your designated safe room or to a basement or room in the middle of the building on the lowest level.

Do not use an elevator.

Use your arms or anything available to protect your head and neck.

If outside and you can get to a sturdy building, do so immediately.

If a tornado is close, get out of the car or truck and take cover in a low-lying area such as a ditch. In all cases get as close to the ground as possible, protect your head.

Do not try to outrun a tornado.

Do not go under an overpass or bridge.

The designated team leader should account for all employees.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

If the building has been severely damaged but you are safe in your safe room remain till emergency assistance arrives. You can be hurt trying to move through the rubble. However, if circumstances require you and your employees to move, use extreme caution, many injuries happen after the tornado has left.

Keep your employees together till emergency personnel arrive.

Do not use matches or lighters in case there is a gas leak or ruptured fuel line nearby.

Find your emergency supply kit and keep it with you.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

Stay informed as severe weather can continue after the tornado passes.

Account for all your employees.

Beware of exposed or fallen power lines.

if you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and the equipment appears to be serviceable, call for maintenance.

Contact your insurance company.

You want to make sure both electronic and hardcopy documents and files are intact. If they have been damaged a restoration company can clean them and prevent mold from water. Loss of computerized data can be disastrous for your company.

Stay away from damaged roads, bridge, and building.

Try to provide aid to anyone that has been injured. If there are serious injuries do not move them unless you have no other choice as they can sustain additional injuries.

Stay informed

Tornado Watch: Be Prepared – Tornados are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are issues by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.

Tornado Warning: Take Action – A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to your safe room, interior room on the lowest floor or a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.

National Weather Service

You have indicated you are concerned about earthquakes. Most preparation as it relates to your building involves securing the structure so it can withstand movement from an earthquake. Additionally, internal mechanical and tall furniture should be properly fastened. Prepare employees on the “dos and don’ts” during an earthquake. Since earthquakes usually arrive without warning, you want to prepare in advance. It is critical to prepare ahead of time. The suggestions in preparing for an earthquake can help protect employees and your workplace.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery Services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written earthquake plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan

If you are in a rented space or office building, learn if your building was constructed or retrofitted to withstand an earthquake. The most dangerous buildings are unreinforced brick or concrete block. Check to see if your building is earthquake resistant.

Secure non-structural components such as warehouse racking, inventory, equipment, and shelving. Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves. Hanging objects should be secured to the wall with closed hooks or earthquake putty. Do not hang heavy objects over desks. Book cases, filing cabinets and other tall furniture should be secured to studs and not just dry wall or masonry. Ensure electronics such as computers and monitors are secured with flexible nylon straps. Secure architectural elements like light fixtures, suspended ceilings and window fixtures.

Practice with employees:
DROP – to your hands and knees
COVER – your head and neck with your arms
THEN HOLD ON – to any sturdy item till the shaking stops.
See Resource section, protecting yourself during an Earthquake

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and email addresses in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Prepare a plan how you will communicate with employees and family members. Often text works better than phone calls. See RESOURCES for additional emergency communication tips.

Set up an agreed upon meeting place and alternate for all employees to go to once the event is over.

If you are near the coast, learn about the Tsunami risk and escape routes inland for your area.

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

Sign up for the USGS Shake Alert System. If you are near the ocean, Tsunamis can be an additional concern after an earthquake. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio provide emergency alerts. See RESOURCES for Quick links

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

Practice with employees:
DROP – to your hands and knees
COVER – your head and neck with your arms.
THEN HOLD ON – to any sturdy item till the shaking stops.
See RESOURCES – Protecting Yourself During an Earthquake.

Do not use elevators.

Do not stand near glass, windows, or near anything that could fall.

Do not leave the building till the shaking stops.

When the shaking stops and when it is safe, employees should go to their agreed meeting place.

The designated team leader should account for all employees. See RESOURCES – Protecting Yourself During an Earthquake.

When in a vehicle, pull over, stop and stay in the vehicle. Try to find an open area and avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires.

If outdoors, stay outdoors. Move away from buildings, street lights and utility wires. However, if you are in a city with a lot of falling debris it may be safer to move indoors or under a sturdy overhang.

Try to connect to the earthquake warning system.

Account for all your employees.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Find your emergency supply kit and keep it with you.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

Check for any obvious structural damage and other hazards that may pose immediate threat to you and your employees.

Beware of exposed or fallen power lines.

Check the utilities and turn them off if your think there is any possibility of a leak.

Use a flashlight and not matches and lighters in case there is a gas leak or ruptured fuel line nearby.

Stay away from damaged roads, bridges and buildings.

Don’t get into your car; stay on foot, except in extreme emergencies.

if you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and the equipment appears to be serviceable, call for maintenance.

Stay informed. Be prepared for aftershocks as they can continue for several days. If you are near the water, be extremely cautious as there could be a Tsunami generated by the earthquake. It is best to move to higher ground as quickly as possible as you may have little time to react.

Contact your insurance company.

Try to provide aid to anyone that has been injured. If there are serious injuries do not move them unless you have no other choice as they can sustain additional injuries.

Since Earthquakes are sudden and often without prior indication, most vulnerable states have set up alerts to indicate that shaking has started and hopefully you have a few seconds or minutes to react to the situation.

See quick links for alerts in most active areas of the United States.

You indicated that you are concerned about landslides and Debris flows. Contact local officials to inquire whether landslides or debris flows have occurred in your area, as there is a tendency for them to happen again. Be familiar with the land around your building especially sloping land directed at your building and your access away from the building. There are a number of practical remedies to protect your building and employees. It is critical to prepare ahead of time. The suggestions in preparation for a landslide/debris flow can help protect your employees and workplace.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written landslide/debris flow plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

Be aware of signs that a landslide or debris flow may soon occur. Since there is no comprehensive warning system because each area is different, being aware of your surrounding and weather pattern is crucial. look for: Recent heavy rain; Recent forest fires; Changes in the landscape; Changes in water flow; Progressively leaning trees; Small slides and land movement; Fences, retaining walls or utility poles begin to lean; Window or door jams getting stuck for the first time; New plaster cracks; Walls or stairs beginning to pull away from the building; Recent heavy water flow in your area.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Have adequate number of filled sand bags or empty sandbags to be filled as needed to barricade water entry areas.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

Be aware of advisories; know the difference between a warning and a watch. See RESOURCES for additional details on watches, warnings, advisories and alerts.

While you may not own or operate the building your business operates out of, you may still have property that need to be secured including covering glass windows and any other objects outside that need to be protected.

Raise critical contents off the ground and if possible above possible flood elevation.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

Stay alert.

Listen for sounds of braking branches and falling rocks.

When walking or driving, avoid moving water and debris especially along embankments where rushing water and debris can move swiftly. Look out for collapsed pavement.

If you cannot escape, curl into a tight ball; cover your head with your hands and arms.

Employees should be made aware when a landslide or debris flow may occur and should be prepared to evacuate quickly.

The designated team leader should account for all employees.

Fuel vehicle tanks.

Turn off all utilities.

Do not hesitate to act. Declare an emergency in advance so there is time to put your plan into action.

Give employees time to evacuate so that they can get home or to a safe location.

Do not stand near glass windows or near anything that could fall.

Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Six inches can make a car lose control. One foot can float a car. Two feet of running water can carry a car away.

When possible have air conditioners and dehumidifiers running to help pull moisture out of the air.

If your computers have come in contact with water do not turn them on. Contact a company that specializes in restoring computer equipment.

If you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and it appears they may have been damaged, call them in to do maintenance.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Find your emergency supply kit and keep it with you.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

Check for any obvious structural damage and other hazards that may pose immediate threat to you and your employees.

Account for all your employees.

Beware of exposed or fallen power lines.

Check the utilities and turn them off if your think there is any possibility of a leak.

Use a flashlight and not matches and lighters in case there is a gas leak or ruptured fuel line nearby.

Stay away from damaged roads, bridges and buildings.

Watch for a flood that may occur after a landslide or debris flow.

Try to provide aid to anyone that has been injured. If there are serious injuries do not move them unless you have no other choice as they can sustain additional injuries.

Stay informed.

IF you have left your place of work before the landslide or debris flow, do not return till it is safe. Find out if local Authorities confirmed your area is safe.

Avoid driving or walking through water and mud, they may be hidden sinkholes and the water may be deeper than it looks. There may also be hidden debris in the water and mud.

Contact your insurance company.

An advisory is a general statement about the potential of landslide activity in a given region relative to developing rainfall predictions. An advisory may include general statements about rainfall conditions that can lead to debris-flow activity, and list precautions to be taken in the event of heavy rainfall.

A watch means that landslide-activity will be possible but is not imminent. People in, or planning to travel through, a watch area should know landslide preparedness and stay informed about developing weather patterns.

Warnings indicate that landslide activity is presently occurring, and extreme caution should be taken.

Watches and warnings may be issued for discrete areas and include advice about contacting an area’s local emergency centers. Watches and warnings for rainfall-induced debris flows are weather dependent and will closely track National Weather Service watches and warnings for flash flooding.

Flash Flood Warning: Take Action! A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.

NOAA

Loses from floods are the most prevalent type of insurance claim. Know if your area is prone to floods. Planning ahead by fortifying mechanical systems, securing outside surroundings and foundations, and being prepared with temporary barriers to keep water away from your building can help keep your business running. Have an evacuation plan for your employees. Having flood insurance whether you are in a flood zone or not, is an equally important step to protect yourself against this common loss. The suggestions in preparing for a flood can help protect your employees and property.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written flood plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

Raise critical contents off the ground and if possible above possible flood elevation.

Have adequate number of filled sand bags or empty sandbags to be filled as needed to barricade water entry areas.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

Be aware of advisory definitions; know the difference between each. See RESOURCES for additional details on watches, warnings, advisories and alerts.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

Give employees time to evacuate so that they can get home or to a safe location.

If there is a flash flood, find safe shelter right away.

Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Six inches can make a car lose control. One foot can float a car. Two feet of running water can carry a car away.

Flood waters may be contaminated.

Stay off bridges over fast moving water.

Get out of low areas that are prone to flooding.

Stay away from power and electrical lines.

Turn off electric and gas supplies at the buildings source.

The designated team leader should try and stay in communication with all employees till they are in a safe location

Fuel vehicle tanks.

Turn off all utilities.

Do not hesitate to act. Declare an emergency in advance so there is time to put your plan into action.

Do not return till it is safe. Find out if local Authorities confirmed your area is safe.

Avoid driving or walking through water, they may be hidden sinkholes and the water may be deeper than it looks. There may also be hidden debris.

Clean water and muddy areas. To handle this properly a professional restoration company may be the best alternative.

When possible have air conditioners and dehumidifiers running to help pull moisture out of the air.

If your computers have come in contact with water do not turn them on. Contact a company that specializes in restoring computer equipment.

If you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and it appears they may have been damaged, call them in to do maintenance.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

When returning to your workplace, use extreme caution especially if there is water damage. There may be hidden damage that is not obvious to you. If there is any question, have a professional come in to confirm you work place is safe.

Contact your insurance company.

Account for all your employees

Be aware of exposed or fallen power lines

Stay informed.

Flood Warning: Take Action! A Flood Warning is issued when the hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

Flood Watch: Be Prepared: A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur. A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Flood Advisory: Be Aware: A Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance. A Flood Advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property

Red Flag Warning: Take Action. Be extremely careful with open flames. NWS issues a Red Flag Warning, in conjunction with land management agencies, to alert land managers to an ongoing or imminent critical fire weather pattern. NWS issues a Red Flag Warning when fire conditions are ongoing or expected to occur shortly.

NOAA

You have indicated that you are concerned about Wildfires. Proper building materials can help resist fire. Trees and shrubs within 5-30 feet of your structure that are well maintained are less likely to provide combustible fuel to a wildfire. Become familiar with the local warning system and the difference between warnings and watches. Preparing in advance is key. There are a number of suggestions in preparation for a Wildfire that can greatly reduce the chance that employees will be hurt and your work place destroyed.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written wildfire plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

Have N95 type masks available for all employees to keep particle from being inhaled

In case you become trapped and cannot leave your building, designate a room that can be closed off from outside air. Close all doors and windows. Setup a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low when smoky conditions exist.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

Be aware of advisories; know the difference between a warning and a watch. See RESOURCES for additional details on watches, warnings, advisories and alerts.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

If you are under a wildfire warning, get to safety right away.

Give employees time to evacuate so that they can get home or to a safe location.

Close all doors and windows in the building.

Turn off Gas.

Keep lights on in the building so that firefighters can see through the smoke.

Do not try to outrun a fire. It can move as quickly as 14 miles an hour.

If you are in your car. Roll up windows and vents.

If you are trapped in your car try to find a clearing with little or no vegetation and pull over. Close car windows and vents. Cover yourself in a blanket or jacket. Lie on the vehicle floor. Try to call for help.

Fuel vehicle tanks.

Turn off all utilities.

Do not hesitate to act. Declare an emergency in advance so there is time to put your plan into action.

If you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and it appears they may have been damaged, call them in to do maintenance.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

Beware of exposed or fallen power lines.

Check the utilities and turn them off if your think there is any possibility of a leak.

Use a flashlight and not matches and lighters in case there is a gas leak or ruptured fuel line nearby.

Check your building for any burning embers.

Be careful to check area they have had fire as they could reignite again.

Check the perimeter of your place of work for areas that might still be smoldering and extinguish.

If it is safe, check your roof top to insure there are no sparks or embers visible.

Keep checking for any signs of fire for a few days after the event.

Check for stability of poles and trees around your place of work as they may have become weakened by the fire.

Contact your insurance company.

If you do not have power and appears safe, check your fuse box first as the heat from the fire can cause the circuit breaker to switch off.

If your computers have come in contact with water while putting a fire out, do not turn them on. Contact a company that specializes in restoring computer equipment.

Check with Fire officials before allowing employees to enter the building and return to work.

Account for all your employees

The designated team leader should account for all employees.

Be aware of exposed or fallen power lines

Stay informed.

Fire Weather Watch: Be Prepared. A watch alerts land manager’s and the public that upcoming weather conditions could result in extensive wild land fire occurrence or extreme fire behavior. A watch means critical fire weather conditions are possible but not imminent or occurring.

Extreme Fire Behavior (warning): This alert implies a wildfire is likely to rage of out of control. It is often hard to predict these fires because they behave erratically, sometimes dangerously. One or more of the following criteria must be met:

Moving fast: High rate of spread

Prolific crowning and/or spotting

Presence of fire whirls

Strong convection column

NOAA

You have indicated you are concerned about a Tsunami. Tsunami’s are created by earthquakes. They can happen with without notice or take days to arrive. If you have a building near the water, you can take some precautions to help protect your building. Having a plan in place is critical because if you have to act quickly, minutes can mean life or death. All employees should be familiar with your company plan. You should have evacuation routes to higher land posted for employees and guests. Planning ahead is critical. The suggestions in preparation for, and what to do during a Tsunami, can help protect your employees and work place.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written tsunami plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

If you are located in an evacuation zone, know your evacuation routes. If you are unsure contact your local emergency management office to learn where the evacuation zones and routes are located in your area. Get an estimate of travel times on evacuation routes and anticipate that there may be heavy traffic. Post evacuation routes.

Prepare a plan for the quick evacuation of employees and customers. Your number one responsibility is to try and prevent loss of life. Using an evacuation zone map, mark the location of your building and determine the quickest, safe route to higher ground, which could also be the highest floor in a reinforced concrete building. You should remember, the quickest route inland may not always be the safest and you should be familiar with several different routes to safety in case an incident occurs that prevents you from evacuating via your primary route.

Post the evacuation routes at the exit(s) of your business.

Prepare two plans; one for a tsunami generated a far distance from you. A second plan for a locally generated Tsunami. The Tsunami generated from a distance can potentially give you hours or days. In a locally generated Tsunami you may have minutes to react. That is why it is critical to have a plan in place so you and your employees will know exactly how to react.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

Be aware of advisories; know the difference between a warning and a watch. See RESOURCES for additional details on watches, warnings, advisories and alerts.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

If you feel a strong coastal Earthquake, once the shaking stops, move quickly to higher elevation as a Tsunami may be coming within minutes; or if you hear a loud roar or unusual ocean behavior, such as a sudden rise, wall of water or sudden draining of water showing the ocean floor quickly move to higher elevation. (TS) Listen to emergency alerts.

Listen to emergency alerts.

Most important, when you get the warning to leave, evacuate immediately.

Whether on foot or in a car STAY AWAY FROM WATER IF YOU CAN HELP IT. 6 inches can make a car lose control. One foot can float a car. Two feet of running water can carry a car away.

The designated team leader should account for all employees.

Fuel vehicle tanks only if you have enough advanced warning.

Do not hesitate to act. Declare an emergency in advance so there is time to put your plan into action.

Give employees time to evacuate so that they can get home or to a safe location.

Do not stand near glass windows or near anything that could fall.

Turn off all utilities.

Do not return till it is safe. Find out if local Authorities confirmed your area is safe.

Clean out water and muddy areas. To handle this properly a professional restoration company may be the best alternative.

When possible have air conditioners and dehumidifiers running to help pull moisture out of the air.

If your computers have come in contact with water do not turn them on. Contact a company that specializes in restoring computer equipment.

If you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and it appears they may have been damaged, call them in to do maintenance.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

Stay away from damaged roads, bridges and buildings.

Contact your insurance company.

Listen to local alerts for information about unsafe areas and shelters to go to.

Avoid flood water as dangerous unseen debris can be floating below the surface.

Fallen active power lines can be below the surface of the water posing a serious electrocution hazard.

Try to account for all your employees.

If you have enough time, take your emergency supply kit with you.

Tsunami messages are issued by the tsunami warning centers to notify emergency managers and other local officials, the public and other partners about the potential for a tsunami following a possible tsunami-generating event. For U.S. and Canadian coastlines, these messages include alerts. There are four levels of tsunami alerts: warning, advisory, watch and information statement:

Tsunami Warning: Take Action—Danger! A tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours or days after initial arrival.

Follow instructions from local officials. Evacuation is recommended. Move to high ground or inland (away from the water).

Tsunami Advisory: Take Action—A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may be flooding of beach and harbor areas. Stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Follow instructions from local officials.

Tsunami Watch: Be Prepared—A distant earthquake has occurred. A tsunami is possible.

Stay tuned for more information. Be prepared to take action if necessary.

Tsunami Information Statement: Relax—An earthquake has occurred, but there is no threat, or it was very far away and the threat has not been determined. In most cases, there is no threat of a destructive tsunami.

Note: Tsunami warnings, advisories and watches may be updated or cancelled as information becomes available. Advisories watches and information statements may be upgraded if the threat is determined to be greater than originally thought.

Tsunami warnings are broadcast through local radio and television, marine radio, wireless emergency alerts, NOAA Weather Radio and NOAA websites (like Tsunami.gov). They may also come through outdoor sirens, local officials, text message alerts and telephone notifications.

There may not always be enough time for an official warning, so it is important that you understand natural warnings. If you are at the coast and feel a strong or long earthquake, see a sudden rise or fall of the ocean or hear a loud roar from the ocean, a tsunami may follow. This is your warning. Take action and move to a safe place. Do not wait for official instructions.

NOAA

You have indicated that you are concerned about a Volcano. Building materials is an important defense against volcanic ballistics, and hot ambers. The weight of accumulating ash can collapse roofs and easily get into the interior of buildings. Knowing how to handle ash properly is important. Have a plan that all your employees know and can respond to quickly. Be prepared ahead of time and follow suggestions to reduce the chance of employees being injured and building being destroyed.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written volcano plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

Ash can accumulate quickly; have a shelter at your building in case employees and visitors cannot leave.

Have an Emergency Supply Kit at your place of work and in your business vehicle. See RESOURCES for contents of an Emergency Supply Kit

Prepare a plan how you will communicate with employees and family members during and after the event. Texts often work better than phone calls. See RESOURCES for additional emergency communication tips.

Request employees with a medical condition to carry a minimum of three days supply of medications at all times.

Purchase a battery or crank powered radio.

Be aware of advisories; know the difference between a warning and a watch. See RESOURCES for additional details on watches, warnings, advisories and alerts.

Learn how to connect to the National Volcano Early Warning System and community warning systems. The Volcanic Notification service (VNS) is a free service that sends notifications about volcanic activity. See RESOURCES for Quick links

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Know where all vents are and know how to close them.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

Ash can damage your building. Taking action during a volcano can help alleviate some of this damage.

Close all windows and doors. Stop ash entering the building.

Do not run air conditioners or HVAC units.

Close off outside vents.

Limit ash getting inside by using only the most protected entrances.

Secure all openings around windows, vents and doors.

Vacuum indoor surfaces were possible or use a damp cloth to remove ash. Avoid vigorous rubbing.

Do not drive in heavy ash, if required to be outside.

Fuel vehicle tanks.

Do not hesitate to act. Declare an emergency in advance so there is time to put your plan into action.

Give employees time to evacuate so that they can get home or to a safe location.

Do not stand near glass windows or near anything that could fall.

The designated team leader should account for all employees.

Turn off all utilities.

If you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and it appears they may have been damaged, call them in to do maintenance.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

See if the Federal Government can assist in any expense reimbursement.

Check your building for any burning embers.

Contact all employees to make sure they are all safe.

Contact your insurance company to access the damage and get the go ahead to call a restoration company in if necessary to cleanup.

Clean the roof first. Ash should be removed from building roofs to avoid collapse as soon as possible.

Wetting down ash will form a glue-like material which is not easy to remove, and it adds weight to the ash. The best method is to blow off or lightly damp the ash (prevent it billowing) and to sweep it up. Remember water will be in high demand.

Remove ash immediately before rain if possible. But remember ash particles commonly have sharp broken edges making it a very abrasive material.

Gutters can accumulate ash from the roof, reducing the drainage capacity and further increase loading on the roof. Ash may block gutters and downpipes, leading to localized flooding and damage to your roof.

Roof tops may be slippery or at the limit of their load capacity. Be extremely careful when working on a roof, even on roofs with low to moderate pitch, and especially when covered with slippery materials. Make sure protective measures are used during cleanup. For example, use planking, mats, plywood sheets and pliable footwear to prevent slippage and damage from the impact and abrasion. When using shovels, rakes, or other materials, be careful of the underlying roof surface; the full force of water from a hose can easily break shingles or tear roofing material.

Put ash into bags; do not put ash in the storm drain or sewage system.

Check with officials before allowing employees to return to work.

It is important to document as best you can all assets that may have been damaged including equipment inside the building, if soot and ash are present or if there was water damage from the cleanup.

If you do not have power and appears safe, check your fuse box first as the heat from volcanic ash can cause the circuit breaker to switch off.

If your computers have come in contact with water or ash, do not turn them on. Contact a company that specializes in restoring computer equipment.

Stay away from damaged roads, bridge, and building.

Stay informed.

Try to provide aid to anyone that has been injured. If there are serious injuries do not move them unless you have no other choice as they can sustain additional injuries.

NORMAL – Volcano is in typical background, noneruptive state or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has ceased, and volcano has returned to noneruptive background state.

ADVISORY – Volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level or, after a change from a higher level, volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.

WATCH – Volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption, timeframe uncertain, or eruption is underway but poses limited hazards.

WARNING – Hazardous eruption is imminent, underway or suspected.

Fires are common; taking steps to anticipate them saves lives and helps prevent loss of property. There are many legal requirements that you have to follow. Practice is the key to fire preparedness. Make sure your employees know what to do in case of a fire. The suggestions in preparation for a fire can help protect your employees from this very real threat.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Prepare employees with a written building fire plan so they know what to do as soon as a watch or warning is posted. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed. See RESOURCES for suggestions on writing an emergency plan.

Fire exits should be kept clear at all times.

Have the proper type of fire extinguisher specific to the use. For example a kitchen requires a different fire extinguisher than an electrical room. You also must follow the required testing and inspection schedule from the extinguisher manufacturer.

Make sure your business is current on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) & National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines. If you ignore these laws and someone is injured or killed in a workplace fire, you may be held liable. For a current list for specific industries, see the reference section for the link to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website.

Two team leader should be selected to learn procedures and assist during fire drills and actual fire or smoke events.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Host regular fire drills. Do not assume common sense will prevail and your employees will know what to do. Training should be reviewed every 6 months or more if required by local ordinances. Make sure everyone is accounted for and all proper lockdown procedures are followed during drills, so your employees will be prepared for an actual fire or smoke event.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

Have an First Aid Kit at your place of work. See RESOURCES for contents of a First Aid Kit

Review The National Fire Protection Association list of fire prevention regulations and tips. See the reference section for a link to this list. Keep in mind that prevention measures will vary depending on the type of business you run.

Sound the Alarm, no matter how big or small the fire is.

Evacuate promptly and calmly.

Employees to move the designated assembly point.

The designated team leader should account for all employees once the building is evacuated.

Do not allow workers to return till the building is declared safe.

If you have service contracts for machinery in your office or factory and it appears they may have been damaged, call them in to do maintenance.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

If your computers have come in contact with water while putting a fire out, do not turn them on. Contact a company that specializes in restoring computer equipment.

Contact your insurance company to access the damage and get the go ahead to call a restoration company in if necessary to cleanup.

Check with Fire officials before allowing employees to enter the building and return to work.

Check utilities and turn them off if you think there is any possibility of a gas or oil leak.

It is important to document as best you can all valuable assets for insurance purposes.

If you are able to have access to the building after the fire try to salvage as many assets as possible. Remember, the soot and smoke can have lasting effect if assets are not properly cleaned.

Secure the property and if necessary arrange for security to watch your property.

Odor from the smoke after the fire has been put out can be dangerous to the lungs and the smell can be difficult to breathe in. If necessary, wear a breathing mask till the air and surfaces have been cleaned our renovated.

Update employees, customers and vendors as to your company’s status. Give them new contact information. Continue to keep everyone updated as to your status.

If you believe the fire may have been started on purpose, start an arson investigation.

To prepare your company for potential Pandemic/Influenza outbreaks it is crucial that you stay current on information from news agencies. Prepare alternative arrangements and have frequent communication with your employees. Remember, in a highly contagious outbreak with serious health consequences, employees may not want to or cannot come to work. The suggestions given to prepare for a Pandemic/Influenza outbreak can help protect your employees and keep your business functioning.

Be aware of current information about pandemic and influenza outbreaks. Information is available from news agencies, public health officials and at many sites on the internet such as the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. See the reference section for links to these and other sites.

Discuss working arrangements with your employees, especially if they cannot or are not willing to come to work during an outbreak. Make plans to have employees work remotely.

Have an Influenza/Pandemic Check List posted and sent to each employee outlining best practices in the event of a pandemic/influenza outbreak. See resource section for Checklist example.

Have an First Aid Kit at your place of work. See RESOURCES for contents of a First Aid Kit

Prepare a written emergency action plan so your employees know how to handle different situations.

Stay current on pandemic/influenza news and information.

Have disinfectant products available around the work area for employees.

Clean surfaces at least once a day but more often if practical.

Frequently communicate with employees throughout the pandemic/influenza outbreak.

Limit unnecessary visitors to the workplace. Use video conferencing whenever possible.

Minimize group meetings; use emails, phones, text messaging and video conferencing. If meetings are unavoidable, meet in a well ventilated room. Stay as far as possible (6 feet if possible) from each other.

When practical, supply surgical masks, plastic gloves and tissues to each employee. Used masks, plastic gloves and tissues should be put into plastic bags and removed every day.

If an employee is sick, require them to stay home until symptoms are over for 48 hours or longer if recommended by health officials.

See the reference section for Pandemic/Influenza check list and QUICK LINK for additional suggestions from the CDC and OSHA.

Post and email check list information to employees and visitors.

Practice Social Distancing of at least 6 feet.

Wear a mask

Wash your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap.

Cover coughs and sneezes

Clean surfaces frequently with minimum 60% alcohol.

Stay at home if you have a fever or feel sick.

Work from home when practical.

Listen to the news and CDC for updates and suggestions.

Test for the virus if a test is available.

Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against people, businesses or property to intimidate, influence or coerce, for political or social objectives or in response to a perceived injustice to an individual, community or belief.
Terrorist attacks are sudden and usually happen when you least suspect it. These attacks come in many forms such as receipt of a suspicious package, a bomb threat or an explosion, an active shooter or other forms of workplace violence, such as bioterrorism and hazmat situations. It is important to create an emergency action plan, which is shared with your employees. Preparation in these situations can save lives. It’s important to stress to all employees “If You See Something, Say Something” even if it is minor. The suggestions in preparation for a Terrorist Attack can help protect your employees and work place.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Training in first aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can save lives. Offer employees the opportunity to take certificate programs.

Have an First Aid Kit at your place of work. See RESOURCES for contents of a First Aid Kit

Be familiar with your surroundings. Know where the closest exits are and what your exit strategy would be in the event of an emergency.

Stay informed of possible reported threats in your area. Use the National Terrorism advisory system (NTAS) for updates on threats in your area. See the resource section and Quick Links.

Become familiar with your office protocols for handling suspicious mail or packages. See RESOURCES – Suspicious Mail or Packages

Prepare a written plan for your employees so they know what to do. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

“RUN, HIDE, TELL”. Run to a place of safety if you can find a safe route. Leave your belonging behind. Request others come along with you. If you cannot find a safe route, then HIDE. Try to find cover and barricade yourself in as much as possible. Keep quiet and turn your cell phone on silent. Only if you believe to be safe, call local authorities to notify them of the incident and your location.

If you are concerned about a suspicious package you should always exercise caution. Report it immediately to senior staff and authorities. Be prepared to act in a manner that enhances your safety as well as others. See the resource section for specific actions to take.

If an event required employees to disperse or leave the building, the designated team leader should account for all employees.

Get necessary medical attention as soon as possible.

Mental Health counseling to overcome the stress from trauma.

Only return to your place of work if officials say it is OK.

It is likely employees will have questions or concerns. How could this happen, is the business doing everything it can to prevent this from happening again? It is important to be prepared to engage your employees on these important questions.

Work closely with employees to review plan so they feel you are protecting them.

If there is physical damage to your property, call your insurance company to assess the damage.

Explosions and resulting fires happen suddenly. They cause billions of dollars in damage every year including loss of life. Understand the dangers of the equipment and materials at your facility. It is your responsibility to select safe equipment and to maintain it properly. Ensure combustible materials are stored properly and to code. Train personnel, they should understand the hazards associated with their work. There are numerous federal and local laws governing the proper use of explosive materials, knowing and acting on these requirements is your responsibility. If there is an explosion and there are related injuries, have them evaluated quickly. They can become the worst over time. The suggestions in preparation for an explosion can help save lives and protect property.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Have proper protective gear available relative to the materials being used. Strict guidance should be followed in it use.

Have properly stocked First-Aid kits and equipment available and nearby the work locations.

Have documented training for employees in proper First-Aid necessary to treat each type of exposure.

Inspect and maintain First-Aid equipment.

Provide safety awareness training so the employees understand how to prevent accidents.

Supervise work with a safety professional.

Stay up to date on federal, state and local regulations, standards and manufacturer recommendations.

Purchase equipment that meets or exceeds government guidelines.

Have an emergency evacuation plan in place.

Explosions and fires happen for many reasons. Evaluate your workplace for potential hazards. For example some forms of dust can become combustible. While it may be impossible to eliminate all the dust, it can significantly reduce the possibility of a dust fire.

If your company does “hot work” such as burning, heating, and soldering sparks can ignite material many feet away. It can also ignite vapors or dust in the air. Following proper procedures can keep workers and workplace safe. Make sure workers are properly trained in “hot work”.

Know safety information for every liquid at your facility.

Store flammable liquids properly

Control all ignition sources as far away from chemicals as possible unless you are purposely igniting a chemical.

Equipment can also cause fires and explosions. Provide training for employees Keep equipment clean and have a regular maintenance program. Follow manufacturers recommended use procedures.

Use antistatic equipment if required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) & National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Prepare a written plan for your employees so they know what to do. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed.

If you suspect a gas leak, immediately notify all employees to evacuate the building. Do not light anything, use your phone or turn on lights. It can cause a spark and gas to explode.

If there is an explosion, get under a strong table or desk if objects are falling around you.

Do not use elevators.

Stay low if there is smoke.

When outside, move quickly away from the building, glass windows or doors can explode out.

If you are trapped inside, shout only as a last resort to avoid dangerous dust. Whistle, tap on pipes or use a flashlight to notify rescuers.

Cover your nose and mouth with a shirt or cloth.

Document all damage and cleanup with photos so you can show what happened to your insurance company.

Contact your insurance company to access the damage and get the go ahead to call a restoration company in if necessary to cleanup.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Report to authorities if required according to legal requirements.

Review response and modify plan as necessary to reduce the risk of another explosion in the future.

Secure the area till cleanup and renovation is complete.

Account for all your employees

Be aware of exposed or fallen power lines

Try to provide aid to anyone that has been injured. If there are serious injuries do not move them unless you have no other choice as they can sustain additional injuries.

In preparation for a potential Civil Disturbance or Strike, your main goal should be employee and public safety. These types of occurrences can cause a variety of issues such as violence and assault, disorderly conduct, and/or vandalism. While there are a variety of potential situations you may face which can change quickly, employees should be aware of general procedures to follow to help insure their safety. The suggestions for Civil Distrubance/Strike, can help give some insight into how to best handle these situations.

Familiarize yourself and employees with evacuation procedures out of your building. There should be at least two exits.

Know the area around your building and in the local community. Have several alternatives escape routes available. Remember, while you may have driven a car to work, your best evacuation route may be on foot.

Have an First Aid Kit at your place of work. See RESOURCES for contents of a First Aid Kit

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Training in first aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can save lives. Offer employees the opportunity to take certificate programs.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

If you witness an act of violence or disorder by a person or group of people alert your Supervisor and call 911.

Where possible carpool or travel in groups to work to enhance personal safety as well as limit the number of vehicles in or around the area of the disturbance.

Follow the instructions of any first responder or police officer during the evacuation.

Don’t engage or communicate with anyone participating in the civil disturbance, ignore any statements made to you or about the company, just remain silent.

Always inspect company and/or your personal vehicles for hazards prior to entering them during the disturbance.

Don’t open any parcels, letters or emails that look suspicious.

If the strike or civil unrest included violence talk with employees to see if counseling is need to overcome the trauma.

Contact your insurance company to access the damage and get the go ahead to call a restoration company in if necessary to cleanup.

Secure the property and if necessary arrange for security to watch your property.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

You want to prepare your company for potential Chemical/Hazardous Material emergencies. Fast action is crucial. Setup a training program to educate employees on procedures. Have appropriate protective gear available for employees to use and first aid stations near work areas. Follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and local government requirements. These laws are both the responsibility of the company using the chemical/hazardous materials and the owner of the building if they are different. Not following these rules, especially if there is an accident with injuries can lead to legal consequences. See the reference section for links to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) & National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements. The suggestions in preparation for a Chemical/Hazardous material Emergency can help protect employees from injury.
See the Resource Section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your Cleanup and rebuild

Conduct a hazard review of all chemicals and hazardous materials that you manufacture or purchase.

Have proper protective gear available relative to the materials being used. Strict guidance should be followed in it use.

Have properly stocked First-Aid kits and equipment available and nearby the work locations.

Have documented training for employees in proper First-Aid necessary to treat each type of exposure.

Inspect and maintain First-Aid equipment.

Provide safety awareness training so the employees understand how to prevent accidents.

Supervise work with a safety professional.

Stay up to date on federal, state and local regulations, standards and manufacturer recommendations.

Purchase equipment that meets or exceeds government guidelines.

Have an emergency evacuation plan in place.

If you have a regulated substance on site, you must comply with ether Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency action plan 29 CFR 1910.38 or 29 CFR 1910. 119 if you already have a Hazmat team in place.

Have a procedure for informing the public and emergency response agencies about a hazardous substance release.

You must know if there is a community plan, under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, EPCRA also known as SATA Title III.

Facilities must have on-hand records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the training and maintenance requirements.

The team leader should have a list of all employee names, numbers and emails address in their smartphone and backed up to the cloud.

Prepare a written plan for your employees so they know what to do. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed.

If you have physically impaired employees, you must have a plan to evacuate them too.

If victim is injured immediately remove the employee from the area.

Apply first aid according to material release i.e. clear lungs, flush eyes, clean skin.

Notify workers and supervisors.

Account for all employees in the area.

Try to identify spilled material without exposing others.

If necessary evacuate.

If material is flammable immediately turn off all equipment that can ignite the material.

Prevent the spread of liquid, vapors or dust.

Collect and contain materials.

Report to authorities if required according to the hazardous material released.

Review response and modify plan as necessary to reduce the risk of another spill or release in the future.

Call your insurance company if there is covered loss. Get the go ahead to call in a restoration company.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

Decontaminate the work area.

Properly dispose of the hazardous material.

When backing your computer system locally in your own office or in the cloud, keep the following tips in mind. It is good practice to have redundant backups. Bad actors can go from your server to a third -party backup and delete your information, leaving you literally with nothing. Make sure your third-party cloud backup also has a redundancy and cannot be erased by a bad actor who has stolen your password. Require written confirmation from an executive of your company before any third-party cloud backup can be erased. In addition to cloud backups, manual backups that are removed routinely from your place of work is the ONLY FULL PROOF WAY TO PROTECT YOUR DATA. The bad actors are getting increasingly sophisticated and can gain far more access to our system and third- party systems than you might imagine. We suggest you do a manual backup at least once a week if not more often. In the worst case scenario, you would have only lost one weeks work vs losing all your information. See the Operations Preparedness Section under Technology for additional recommendations

Have a security assessment done on your system by a third party Cyber Security company. Have a test attack initiated to identify vulnerabilities and have them corrected.

Secure your emails. Most attacks come through your email. Choose a strong antivirus software that updates regularly against spam, malware and other intrusions.

Security Awareness. Teach your team about data security. It is important to review this frequently with your team so it “sticks”. See the resource section for more information on security Awareness.

Use strong passwords and two factor authentication (two methods of verification). See the resource section on Two Factor Authentication.

Have Firewall software installed if you do not already have it. Turn on intrusion detection and intrusion prevention features.

Whenever possible have files encrypted.

Install any pending security updates or patches.

Back up locally or in the cloud. Keep the following tips in mind. It is a good practice to have redundant backups. Bad actors can go from your server to a third party backup and delete your information leaving you literally with nothing. Make sure your cloud backup also has a redundancy and cannot be erased by a user using a password. Require written confirmation from an executive of your company. Secondly, in addition to on line backup is, still the safest backup to physically remove the backup from all online systems. THIS IS THE ONLY FULL PROOF WAY TO PROTECT YOUR DATA. The bad actors are getting increasingly sophisticated and can gain far more access to your system and third party systems than you might imagine. It is suggested you do a manual backup at least once a week if not more often. In the worst case scenario, if all is lost, you would have only lost one week of work.

Do not use the same password on multiple accounts.

Update your software as new versions are released.

Learning what accounts have been posted on the Dark Web can help alert you to update your passwords. Get an on-line service to help monitor the Dark Web for you.

Setup software protection for your mobile device as attacks can just as easily come through smartphones and tablets.

If you have a ransomware attack, call in an expert before talking to the attacker or doing anything to your system. You could lose the ability to get your information back.

Cyber insurance can be a life saver for your company. If you do not have it, seriously look into it, an attack can be very costly, especially if it is a Ransomware attack.

It is a good idea to have a resource that specializes in cyber attacks. When it happens time is of the essence. If you have cyber insurance the insurance company will connect you to a cyber team and legal team that will assist you through the process.

Prepare a written plan for your employees so they know what to do. It is crucial that you review the plan periodically for it to be followed.

When a breach happens, contain it. Determine which servers have been compromised and to contain them as quickly as possible to insure other devices are not infected.

Disconnect your internet.

Disable remote access.

Maintain your firewall settings.

Change passwords.

Assess the breach. You will need to determine the cause of the breach so you can work to help prevent the same kind of attack from happening again. You will want to ask, who has access to the servers that were infected? Which network connections were active when the breach occurred? How was the attack initiated? You may be able to pinpoint how the breach was initiated by checking your security data logs through your firewall or email providers, your antivirus program, or your intrusion detection system. If you have trouble finding the cause consider hiring a cyber security investigator if it was a significant attack.

Find out who was affected by the breach including employees, customers and third party vendors.

Manage the fallout. Notify Managers, employees, vendors and even customers if you believe it might have affected them.

If you have cyber liability insurance, notify your carrier.

See the resource section for emergency disaster recovery services to assist in your cleanup and rebuild.

If necessary contact Information Technology specialist that specialize in Cyber crimes.

Contact a law firm to review possible reporting responsibilities.

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