Assess the damage

Many businesses reopen and operate successfully after a natural disaster, but some do not. When assessing the impact on your business, look at the aspects most at risk:

people
processes
premises
providers
profile (perception of your brand)
performance

Evaluate and prepare for risk

You can mitigate the risk to these areas by planning for them before a crisis occurs.

Our guide can help you evaluate possible risks to the different aspects of your business.

Damage to people

Are the people involved injured or distressed (physically, emotionally or psychologically)?
If there are injuries, where can people be treated? What ongoing treatment will be available?
What will be the impact on individual injuries or trauma on the business and potentially for how long?
Are there other people readily available to take the place of those injured or traumatised? If not, where will you find the help you need?

Damage to processes

Are there going to be any interruptions to your normal operating processes?
What contingencies can you put in place to get the business processes back to normal in the shortest possible time?

Damage to premises

Is there physical damage to the premises? If so, what is the extent of the damages?
For how long will the damages affect the normal flow of business?
Do you need to get alternative premises to operate from during repair or restoration?

Damage to providers

Have your providers been affected, or are there issues in your environment that prevent your providers from supplying you?
How long may these issues continue and will these issues require alternate providers?

Damage to profile

Has this particular crisis had an impact on your customers' perception of your brand or profile?
What actions do you have to take to repair your profile or reinforce your brand message?

Damage to performance

Is the impact on the future of your business significant enough to consider whether you should reopen your business?

Cleaning up after a natural disaster

Once the area is declared safe, volunteers and emergency workers can assist with the clean-up.

Some tips on staying safe during a clean-up include:

making sure food is safe to eat—it may be contaminated
boiling water before consumption (if water supply has been contaminated)
wearing protective clothing including long sleeves and pants, gloves and protective shoes
using insect protection, especially from mosquitoes that can spread disease
using ladders safely
working with others rather than alone
ensuring undamaged stock is in a secure location to minimise theft
contacting emergency services, council, and support organisations for guidance and support.

If you sell food, contact your local council to find out if you will require an environmental health inspection before you begin trading again.