Disaster Management: Plan Ahead

Whether you’re just getting started or you’re looking to make your plan more robust, there are plenty of resources available, including the following Web sites:
• www.fema.gov/areyouready;
• www.cdc.gov;
• www.ready.gov; and
• www.redcross.org.

The Department of Homeland Security has a sample emergency plan with easy-to-use templates for businesses. The May 2006 issue of Harvard Business Review has a comprehensive checklist for dealing with an avian flu pandemic that can be modified for other kinds of disasters.