Disasters may strike at any time, usually with little or no warning. In our region, we could experience earthquakes, floods, storms, volcanic activity, severe weather, hazardous material releases, and other emergencies.

BE PREPARED 

Information on Disaster Preparedness for the Auburn Area Business Community

 

Auburn Emergency Management Resources

City of Auburn Emergency Management: https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/emergency_preparedness

·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuburnEM/

·         Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuburnWA_EM

·         Email: [email protected]

·         Phone: 253-876-1925

 

When it comes to disasters, something can be done to reduce the impacts to your business. Small businesses and private sector infrastructure owners can limit employee injuries and property damages and return more quickly to normal operations if they plan ahead. To start this process, we recommend preparing for the following hazards (which have been identified as either likely, significantly hazardous with historical precedent, or both):

 

Hazard in Auburn, WA

·         Flooding

o   Flooding insurance for businesses: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1476976979997-7726027265c3cff4170713d8b3bb482c/FEMA_HFIAA_BusinessOwnerFS_072516.pdf

·         Extreme Weather (such as windstorms, winter storms, or heat waves)

·         Earthquake

·         Pandemic Influenza [https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/emergency-preparedness/preparing-yourself/pandemic-flu/businesses.aspx]

o   Pandemic Influenza Planning for Businesses Video: https://vimeo.com/48042619

o   Covid-19 Planning for Business: http://www.auburnareawa.org/uploads/25/covid-planning-for-businesses.pdf

Preparing for COVID-19 general public

·         Landslide

·         Volcanic Eruption & Lahar

·         Hazardous Material Incidents

·         Terrorism

o   Online training Links: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-907

o   https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1523561958719-f1eff6bc841d56b7873e018f73a4e024/ActiveShooter_508.pdf

o   Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VcSwejU2D0

 

Preparing your business is an ongoing process with many financial and social benefits, and not just when a disaster strikes! Although disaster preparedness and planning will look different for each unique business, it will typically entail the following steps:  

1)      Creating a culture of preparedness at home and at work. Encourage people to put together an emergency survival kit.

2)      Encourage employees to get disaster preparedness training [Auburn EM training schedule – classes are free]

3)      Encourage employees to sign up for Emergency Alerts [https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF0D5C5CC09C]

4)      Create a business-specific “all-hazards” emergency response plan.

5)      Practice your plan regularly. 

 

Here are the benefits of having a disaster prepared business according to profitableventure.com:

1)      Increases the likelihood of business survival after a disaster

2)      Helps your business gain market edge

3)      Sets recovery priorities

4)      Boosts staff morale

5)      Fosters better communication

6)      Helps you control premiums

7)      Increases business value

8)      Serves as a negotiation tool

9)      Guarantees your income

10)   Gives you peace of mind

 

Disaster Preparedness for the Business Community

https://www.fema.gov/small-businesses

https://www.ready.gov/business

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/emergency-management/preparedness/business.aspx

https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/preparedness/businesses

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/business.html

http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Emergency/Preparedness/Workplace/PreparingYourWorkplace_SeattleOEM.pdf

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/resources-documents/collections/357

 

Business Planning Tools

·         Risk Assessment & Planning: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1389015304392-877968832e918982635147890260624d/Business_RiskAssessmentTable_2014.pdf

·         Continuity of Operations Planning: https://www.ready.gov/business-continuity-planning-suite

·         Evacuation Planning: https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Fire/Safety/WorkplaceEmergencyPlanEvacuation.pdf

 

Recovering from a Disaster

https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/Index

https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/preparedness/businesses#Recovery

 

Online Training

https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-394.a

https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-325

 

Feel like you have resources or services to offer the broader community during a major disaster? If your business is interested in being a part of the broader community disaster response, please email or call the City of Auburn Emergency Management to learn more about the City’s Community Organization Active in Disaster (COAD) program.