Part of the Plan is the Office of Emergency Management’s monthly video series where we open our public safety plans and partnerships. Something we value at OEM is informing and including the public as to your roles in our plans. As we say: You are the Public in Public Safety.  This month, we look at out READYBusiness program and hear from a small business owner on what he’s done to prepare for emergencies. 

May 25, 2018

The month of May features National Small Business Week, established by the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) to recognize the critical role of these types of businesses in the United States economy and culture. The SBA says 30 million small businesses employ nearly 58 million Americans, nearly half the country’s labor force.

Locally, Pennsylvania Small Business Week is promoted by the state’s Department of Community & Economic Development and focuses on the contributions of small businesses in the Keystone State along with information to help companies flourish.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, small businesses account for 99% of all employers within the state, numbering one million small businesses which employ 2.5 million workers.

Small businesses not only lend to the flavor of the community, but also to economic diversity and commercializing innovative new technologies.

This is why it is critical that small businesses are able to survive emergencies and disasters.

According to national numbers from FEMA, up to 40% of businesses never recover after experiencing a major emergency.

Our goal is to change that. Our READYBusiness program discusses emergencies and disasters that can affect small businesses along with ways they can prepare for them.

A return to normalcy after a disaster is an important piece of recovery. This is where a small business can play a crucial role for their community.

READYBusiness: Plan to stay open

  • Give yourself and insurance check-up. Are you properly covered?
  • Do you have an emergency operations plan, and more importantly, do you employees know it?A well written plan means nothing if not shared with the people it will affect.
  • Are you aware of what natural hazards affect the City of Philadelphia and how they affect you?
  • 2017 was the costliest year ever recorded in the United States for natural disasters. A disaster doesn’t have to be local to affect you.
  • Flooding and fire and two of the greatest natural hazards we face in the city. Are you important documents backed-up and saved digitally?
  • How is your relationship with your vendors and clients. Are agreements in writing, stored in a central location, and backed up in the cloud or off-site location?
  • Prepare your business now financially so you are ready to respond, continue operations, and recover when disaster strikes.

 

An essential way to be prepared is to stay informed. Get emergency alerts from OEM’s ReadyPhiladelphia program sent to your phone or email to keep you informed prior to and during an emergency. Follow us on Twitter. Like us on  Facebook. 

 

 

Contact us if you are a business or non-profit in the City of Philadelphia and would like to request OEM to present a READYBusiness Workshop for you and your employees.