The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and its director, Mike Womack, want business owners this hurricane season to take some precautions now.

“Small to mid-size Mississippi companies could also be significantly impacted by a hurricane that narrowly misses our state or by any small storm,” Womack said. “When faced with a a tropical system, our business owners will be able to take fewer risks if they plan ahead and prepare early for any possible emergency.”

MEMA says business owners should develop a recovery plan by taking these precautions:

n Include emergency preparedness information in newsletters or other company communication tools.

n Consider a telephone calling tree or a voice recording to communicate with employees during an emergency.

n Designate an out-of-town number where employees can leave an, “I’m okay” message during a catastrophic disaster.

n If you have employees with disabilities or special needs, talk with them about what their needs may be during a disaster.

n Plan for payroll continuity.

n Review and practice what you and your employees intend to do during and after an emergency.

n Establish facility shutdown procedures.

n Establish warning and evacuation procedures.

n Make plans for assisting employees who may need transportation.

n Make plans for communicating with employees’ families before and after a hurricane.

n Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio with a warning alarm tone and battery backup.

n Survey your facility and plan how to protect outside equipment and structures.

n Check if your phone system will work without electricity. If not, have at least one phone line that can operate without electricity.

n Make plans to protect windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection. Covering windows with plywood is a second option.

n Consider the need for backup systems such as portable pumps to remove floodwater and generators to provide emergency power.

n Prepare to move records, computers and other items within your facility or to another location.

n Consider how to recover digital data if there is a significant power outage or if computers and servers are damaged. Keep tax and payroll records, records of inventory and essential information at an alternate site.

n Establish an alternate operating location and back-up suppliers.

n Maintain three to five days of inventory. If a disaster occurs, the loss isn’t as great.

Posted at www.sunherald.com on July 4, 2009