Is Your Business Prepared for a Natural Disaster?

Austin • Centroplex • Corpus Christi • Laredo • Permian Basin • San Antonio • Victoria • Waco

May 2015

65 No. 5

BBB offers tips to help deal with unpredictable Texas weather

As the weather gets warmer, there is a chance that weather-related events could affect your business. Tornadoes, hail storms, flash floods and even wildfires could potentially damage local infrastructure.

It’s wise to prepare before an emergency to ensure employees know what to do to keep themselves safe and to make sure you can still do business if something does happen. The Institute for Business and Home Safety estimates that 25 percent of businesses do not reopen following a major disaster because the damage was too severe or the businesses were not prepared.

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Your BBB recommends using the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website at www.ready.gov to learn about the potential emergencies that could occur where you live and the appropriate ways to respond to them. When you know what to do, you can plan and prepare in advance to be ready. The FEMA website provides information about how to protect your household and begin recovery following the initial disaster.

Below are just some of the important things to consider when creating an emergency plan:

Review Your Insurance Policy. It is important to understand your insurance policy, including the fine print. Know what types of natural disasters are covered and what your business must do should one occur. Determine if you need additional coverage by reviewing the monetary limitations associated with each natural disaster. Also, check your deductible and have a plan to meet it.

Update your inventory. When you submit an insurance claim, you will need to provide an itemized list of damages. Having an accurate inventory list prepared prior to a natural disaster will help you assess the situation and determine what your needs are in order to get your business back to normal operating capacity.

Inform your staff. Post an emergency plan of action in your place of business or include it with new employee manuals. This will help keep your staff safe in a natural disaster.

Identify critical business systems. Figure out what functions are vital to your organization’s survival should something happen. These include functions that would be most sensitive if you had to shut down temporarily, as well as functions that are necessary to maintain cash flow.

Develop an emergency communication plan. Make sure you have a plan developed to communicate with your customers and vendors in the event of a natural disaster. The plan should include a list of all parties that have regular contact with your business and information on how to account for any outstanding customer orders or projects. Make sure the plan explains how to update your web and social media sites to communicate any pertinent information.

Manage Expenses. If your business closes temporarily due to a natural disaster, make sure you have a way to process expenses, such as accounts payable and payroll. Compile a list of all expenses along with account access information in order to continue to be able to operate in a normal capacity.

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Electrical ContractorGenesis WireHi-Tech TruckingJanee’s Bridal & FormalJW Powerline ConstructionLucky’s Septic ServiceMiller’s Tac & SaddleryMo’s PlumbingOn the Couch CounselingRoberts Air Conditioning, Heating &

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& Mapping, LLCFehner & Son Grain Company, LPForever Green 2 LandscapingFriesenhahn Paving CoFuturePt, LLCGet More Insurance ServicesGet More ServicesGMC Resource Group LLCGood Guys Home InspectionHerb’s Hat ShopHerring Family Dental PCHope & Harmony CounselingHP Gonzalez Insurance AgencyImpress 3Iron Horse Mobile StorageJ’s FencesJanke EnginesJC FencesJMS Benefit Solutions AgencyJNN Towing and RecoveryJohn W Muehl DDSJose A. GonzalezJoyce Klein RealtorsKimberlee Daughtry LPCLaw Office of George Leal WillinghamLaw Office of John P. YoungLaw Office of Pascual Madrigal, PLLCLaw Office of Suzanne Raiford, PLLCLee’s Tree & Fence ServiceLJ TowingMarina’s Assisted LivingMascola EstheticsMedcross Billing & Consulting ServicesMP Material Haulers, LLCNew Horizon Mortgage IncOak Hills PharmacyOld Man RoofingPacheco Painting & RemodelingPCH Wheels, LLCPerez Home ImprovementsPrecision Tune AutocarePure BarreQueen of Cakes and EventsR & T TileR. B. Keith Construction, LLCReal Allergy Solutions, LLCRegent Coach LineReliable Appliance Service and SalesRhonda Otway, LMFTRiver City Auto TitleRod’s RemodelingRW Aerobic Septic ServiceSABFI TransportationSharon Mock ED. D, LPCSmart Patient AcademyStorage 4U EastStorage 4U NorthStorage 4U WestStrauss Firm, P.C.SWAT Termite and Pest ControlTexas Ceramic TileTexas Industrial Radiator, IncTexSA Professional CleaningThe Royal CanvasThumpers Auto Detailing Salon LLCTom-Can-Do ServicesTommy Mullins Asphalt PavingTop Shelf Lawn & Landscape LLCTop Shot A/C and HeatingVenture Plumbing CompanyVision Oil & Gas LLC

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Trust Talk is published by Better Business Bureau 1005 La Posada Drive, Austin, TX 78752. Trust Talk is published for executives and employees of BBB Accredited Businesses in its 79-county service area. All rights reserved: the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent of the publisher. References to or mention made of any company, product or service herein is not to be interpreted, per se, as statements derogatory of such company, product or service, but as information obtained from sources believed to be reliable for the use of BBB Accredited Businesses and subscribers. Because the matters contained in this Trust Talk concern matters of the utmost public importance and concern in providing a free flow of information to our companies concerning business enterprises in the Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin area, BBB encourages BBB Accredited Businesses to contact their local BBB with any follow-up material concerning the reports in this newsletter or any other matter to assist BBB in fulfilling its mission of advancing marketplace trust.

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Inside this issueDisaster Preparedness ............................................ 1

New Accredited Businesses ..................................2

First Impressions ......................................................3

Impact & Influence Report ................................... 4

In March 2015, your BBB...Provided customers with 249,627 BBB Business Reviews

Handled 1,836 disputes

Hosted 248,011 website visits

Sent 368 Request-A-Quote referrals to Accredited Businesses

Supported 12,635 Accredited Businesses Locations

In March 2015 your BBB was mentioned 1,317 times by 52 local media outlets including...

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Prepaid Debit/Credit Cards - 11,862ID Theft Protection & Prevention Services - 8,460Roofing Contractors - 7,994Home Builders - 7,264Auto Dealers/Used Cars - 6,978Construction & Remodeling Services - 4,588Plumbers - 4,338Attorneys & Lawyers - 4,244Air Conditioning Contractors & Systems - 4,126 Contractors - General - 4,021

Trust Talk | May 2015

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