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People: Before and After the Storm |
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People: Before and After the Storm
My heart goes out to the people of New Orleans and coastal
Alabama and Mississippi, and those with family and friends in
these devastated areas. Hurricane Katrina is a wake-up call for
all of us feeling safe and sound in other areas of the country.
I've been very remotely touched by only one natural
disaster—the 2002 Glenwood Springs, Colorado wildfire. My
husband and I loaded up our office computers and important
files into two trucks in the middle of the night and scurried
out of town. Fortunately for us, the fire was contained before
it reached us. Natural disasters can be a wake-up call for
smart business women, who are always planning ahead, preparing
for the worst-case scenario. My thinking along these lines
started during the Y2K build-up. And it still serves. First and
foremost in any disaster are people, where they are and how
they're doing. (I'll get to things later in the week.) In an
emergency, everyone—clients, vendors, employees—is 'instant
family.' One of the top worries of Katrina's refugees is the
whereabouts and safety of family and friends. So, think ahead.
If you have employees, make sure you've got their emergency
contact numbers on file (and you've got hard copy backups in a
safe place—not just on your desktop computer, which may not be
working in a power outage.) Update your files regularly. If
you're a sole proprietor, give your emergency contact numbers
to several trusted friends, and keep a copy in your purse or
briefcase and at your office in an easy-to-find place. Be ready
for personal injuries and basic needs. Equip your office with a
well-stocked first aid kit (and learn how to use it by taking a
first aid course), a fire extinguisher, drinking water, and
non-perishable food. All this also reminds me of the Girl Scout
motto. Remember it? "Be prepared."
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