Employers should prioritize the development or updating of their emergency response plans.  To avoid being caught unprepared, emergency protocol should be a regular part of management’s communication with employees, and periodic drills should be scheduled to rehearse organizational response strategies.  Take the time to develop emergency and continuity of operations plans for your organization.   Such plans will ensure that your business is prepared to respond to the immediate threat of a disaster and sustain itself in the period thereafter. 

The following links provide the insights, tools and practical information you need to do this work.  Gathered from organizations including HI-EMA, the Red Cross, and the Department of Homeland Security, and more, these resources will help you ensure that your organization is prepared if and when the next emergency strikes.

• Emergency Preparation Tools

• Red Cross Business Readiness Evaluation Tool
• Small Business Association Emergency Preparedness Resources
• Homeland Security Tools and Resources to Help Businesses Plan and Prepare for an Attack
• IRS Tools on Preparing for Disaster
• OSHA Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources
• Avoid | Deny | Defend - Active Shooter Tools and Resources
• Hawaiian Electric’s tips on Safety & Outages
• Board of Water Supply: How to Store Drinking Water for an Emergency

• Business Continuity Tools
• Homeland Security Business Continuity Planning Suite
• Open for Business:  Business Continuity Toolkitfor Small to Mid-Size Business
• Small Business Association - PrepareMyBusiness.org

• General Information on Employment Law Implications (This information is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice.  Employers should consult with an experienced attorney or HR expert for information specific to their workplace situations.)
• Duane Morris, When Disasters Strike:  Pay, Leave and Related Issues
• Fisher Phillips, Comprehensive FAQs for Employers on Hurricanes and Other Workplace Disasters