Ready Business:

Using Multiple Technologies to Help Businesses

Prepare for and Recovery from Disasters

Parsons Co., Roanoke, IL

Why Plan?

40% of small businesses do not reopen after a major emergency (SBA)

Additional 25% fail within the first year (FEMA)

80-90% may fail within 5 years (US DOL)

Declared disasters more than doubled in recent years

John Arens

A “Comprehensive” Definition

“A disaster is a nonroutine event that

exceeds the capacity of the affected area

to respond to it in such a way as to save

lives; to preserve property; and to

maintain the social, ecological,

economic, and political stability of the

affected region.” (Pearce, 2000)

Think Disruption Natural disasters alone – 30%

of businesses closed for 1 day due to a natural event

Now think External (Key supplier) and

internal (Coffee on computer)

Big and small Personal issues (health of

owner or key employee) Impacts:

Business PLUS Family Perhaps some or all of the community

Uses resources – money, time and goodwill

Teaching Resources

www.EDEN.lsu.edu

EDEN Courses

Plant Biosecurity Mgmt Protecting America’s Food System Pandemic Preparedness for Business Pandemic Influenza Preparedness for

Faith-based Organizations Animal Agrosecurity and Emergency Mgmt Family Preparedness Ready Business

Marketing Video

iPad Appfor Business Disaster

Preparednessand Recovery

Help small businesses develop, streamline and store their disaster preparedness plans

Mobile

Walk through to capture information Photograph inventory

Electronic

Updated easily Stored in cloud Accessible by multiple staff

Inventory

Walk through warehouse

Record inventory details

Photograph products, labels, etc.

Key in supplier details

Shelter in Place

What it means Why it’s important to

have designated locations

Examples of good and bad locations

Record your shelter-in-place locations

Plans

Release in May: National Small Business Week

Market through EDEN, eXtension, NACDEP, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, SBA, financial institutions and organizations, social media, mass media and many other outlets