| Before the next time you hear hurricane --think | | | | planning, States with an approved enhanced State |
| inland flooding! | | | | Mitigation Plan in effect at the time of disaster |
| Conduct another walk-through of your | | | | declaration may receive additional HMGP funding. |
| organization's business continuity plan. Look for | | | | For more information, please visit the Planning |
| business and computing changes since the plan | | | | website [2] . |
| was originally implemented, last tested, or revised. | | | | Verify the operation of the standby generator, if |
| Determine what changes in the plan may be | | | | present. Check that its fuel tank is full and that |
| required-- and then make them. | | | | the fuel is uncontaminated (this should be done on |
| Check your hurricane and flood emergency action | | | | a regular basis by the physical plant manager, but |
| plan and update it as necessary. If there are | | | | follow up with them -- don't let it slip ). |
| changes, make new copies and distribute it to all | | | | Double check information with outside disaster |
| staff members. Put a copy of the plan on a | | | | recovery vendors or suppliers; notify them of |
| website hosted at your organization's hot site. | | | | any changes in your situation or needs. Cross |
| Contact the National Flood Insurance Program | | | | check all of your services and costs with |
| (NFIP) [1] pre-disaster flood mitigation and | | | | accounting so you will have the latest information. |
| insurance protection program. The National Flood | | | | Make sure the building's grounds crew carefully |
| Insurance Program makes federally backed flood | | | | trims all trees so they don't pose a threat to the |
| insurance available to residents and business | | | | facility. Ideally there will be no trees close enough |
| owners. | | | | to the building to cause direct damage. Dead |
| Work with your state and local community, which | | | | wood should be removed to reduce wind-blown |
| should have a Hazard Mitigation grant. Authorized | | | | debris. |
| under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford | | | | Contact your insurance carrier and review your |
| Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, | | | | policy. They will also probably want to review |
| the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) | | | | your business continuity and disaster recovery |
| administered by the Federal Emergency | | | | plans. Make sure that replacement equipment or |
| Management Agency (FEMA) provides grants to | | | | collections are covered. Ensure that copies of |
| States and local governments to implement | | | | updated insurance papers are included in your |
| long-term hazard mitigation measures after a | | | | disaster supplies--and are stored at your hot site |
| major disaster declaration. Hazard mitigation | | | | for protection. |
| planning is an important aspect of a successful | | | | Set in as many flashlights that you'll need around |
| mitigation program. States and communities use | | | | your office and data center. Count the number of |
| the hazard mitigation planning process to set short | | | | flashlights you think you will need and then double |
| and long-range mitigation goals and objectives. | | | | the number that you actually put around. Mark |
| Hazard mitigation planning is a collaborative | | | | your emergency flashlight positions on a floor plan |
| process whereby hazards affecting the | | | | that is kept off site (preferably as a part of your |
| community are identified, vulnerability to the | | | | systems continuity and disaster recovery plan). |
| hazards are assessed, and consensus reached on | | | | If you can't communicate, you can't lead! |
| how to minimize or eliminate the effects of these | | | | Test your emergency communications plan. Run |
| hazards. In recognition of the importance of | | | | through all of the .... |