Severe weather preparedness not one-time exercise for businesses
BRANDON — Local business owners should prepare for the possibility that severe weather could disrupt their operations — even when their facilities escape major damage, a climate resilience expert told […]
Business owners in Brandon should prepare for the potential disruption of severe weather, according to a climate resilience expert. Even if facilities aren't severely damaged, businesses can still face major disruptions, said Emilia Cameron of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction. She spoke at a Brandon Chamber of Commerce luncheon about the impact of recent severe weather on southern Manitoba.
Cameron urged businesses to prepare for more than just damage to buildings. She noted that road closures, power outages, damaged infrastructure, internet failures, and employees unable to reach work can all lead to standstills in operations. Supply chains can also be affected if suppliers can't reach customers. To help, Cameron suggested businesses begin by assessing hazards and discussing coverage with insurance providers and local governments.
The Institute's free Open for Business disaster planning toolkit offers tools to help prepare, including a self-assessment, business continuity plan, and property protection plan. Businesses should also identify key employees, suppliers, vendors, equipment, and services, keeping contact information accessible in case of system or building unavailability.
Preparing alternatives, such as temporary locations, working from home, backup communications, and alternate suppliers, is also recommended. Physical protection doesn't always require significant spending, Cameron said. She advised checking gutters and roof drainage systems, cleaning them regularly, and trimming nearby trees to prevent blockages.
However, the larger concern is understanding the chain of dependencies that keep a business operating. Cameron emphasized that preparedness should not be a one-time exercise. Businesses should review plans after an emergency, identifying what worked and making changes as needed. "Don't wait for the next disaster to start planning," Cameron said.
"Take that assessment, find out where your gaps are, pick one or two, and start there and improve them."
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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