WEV’s Smart Money: Prepare your business for the unexpected

(August 26, 2019)  Is your business ready to face the unexpected? September is National Preparedness month and WEV has compiled a list of actions you can take to mitigate the effect an unplanned (or scheduled*) interruption may have on your business.

BEFORE

• Pay down debt; establish emergency savings
• Review your Commercial/Home Insurance Policy with a trusted broker
• Locate and copy key documents (keep copies off-site)
• Back up data and important contact information including employees and key clients/vendors (keep back-ups off-site or in cloud)
• Take photos of property and assets
• Freeze your credit with main credit agencies
• *Learn about Public Safety Power Shut-offs (PSPS) and scheduled outages. In the event of extreme weather conditions, SCE and PGE may shut off power for up to 5 days. Visit: https://prepareforpowerdown.com/

DURING

• Check in with your Employees
• Visit Ready.gov for updates (readysbc.org and readyventuracounty.org)
• Call 211 for Emergency Resource Assistance
• Visit Disaster Assistance Center (DAC); register with FEMA if there is damage/loss
• Take photos of/Document any damage
• File a claim with your insurer (don’t delay)
• Volunteer in your community if you have time, resources

AFTER

• Call 211 for Disaster Case Management and Recovery Resource Assistance
• Keep Employees informed of available local resources
• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan for immediate cash flow
• Know your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and
• Women’s Business Center (WBC) for any emergency grant/loan opportunities
• Contact the IRS for disaster-related losses; request an extension to filing
• Pivot your business – where might there be new opportunities?
• Volunteer in your community if you have time, resources

Contact WEV’s Business Resilience Specialist Nicki Parr at 805-456-2348 or nparr@wevonline.org.