Open for Business program

If Disaster Strikes, Will You Be Open for Business?

The ability of your business to deal with disasters is crucial not only to its future, but to the success of your community as well. How will your business react to the challenges that result from a tornado, fire, or flooding?

Federated Insurance is a member of the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), a national nonprofit group that works to reduce commercial and residential property losses associated with extreme weather events and natural disasters. As a result, many valuable resources relating to disaster and recovery planning are now available to SouthWestern Association members and their employees at no cost.

One exciting new program available through Federated is Open for Business®. This program –which IBHS values at $2,000 – contains a variety of tools designed to help small business owners not only reduce their potential for loss should disaster strike, but also reopen quickly should they be forced to close. Open for Business® walks you through a 13-piece continuity plan to help identify and resume essential business functions, protect people and property, minimize downtime, and retain clients and customers following a disaster. This program is available both online and in a print version.

Another great tool is available on a site called “Disaster Safety.” This site is designed to help protect the homes and personal assets of business owners, friends, family, and employees by creating awareness of the likely perils that can occur in a specific region. This site includes a ZIP Code tool designed to concentrate the efforts of homeowners in preparing for specific perils such as floods, freezing weather, hail, high winds, wildfires, and tornados. Resources such as best practices, assessments, guides, and checklists are all available to help protect your homes during a disaster.

Disasters of all types can threaten businesses and homes regardless of location. A community cannot survive a disaster unless businesses survive, and a business cannot survive unless its employees survive. Federated Insurance and IBHS offer you the peace of mind that these programs can improve the chances of avoiding costly repairs and increase the odds of staying in business should the worst happen.

To learn more, contact your Federated representative or visit www.federatedinsurance.com. Under Customer Links, select Open for Business® / Disaster Planning (businesses) or Disaster Safety (homes). (You can also link to this site from MLA’s web site: www.The MLA.com.)

 

This article is intended to provide general recommendations regarding risk prevention. It is not intended to be legal advice or to include all steps or processes necessary to adequately protect you, your business or your customers. Please consult your personal attorney and insurance professional for advice unique to you and your business. © 2008 Federated Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.