Emergency Flood Evacuation Update!
What you need to know about your business and potential flood evacuation. This morning on the daily news conference officials discussed the reinforcement to the levee in Crawford County and the possibility that businesses in the area of concern may need to evacuate. First and foremost, personal safety is the most important. Next, what do you need to keep your business operating? Most businesses rely on computers to be able to collect accounts receivable, generate payroll, and in some cases generate revenue. What do you need to consider should you need to evacuate? Following are some guidelines.
Evacuation Plan:
1) Assume you will not be able to return for some period of time.
2) Prioritize. Which positions need to be able to work? Typically, revenue generators, accounts receivable, payroll, accounts payable are important. Once you have set priorities what computer equipment should you take with you?
3) Where is an alternate location you can work? A room at a church? A meeting room at a hotel? The owner’s home?
4) Establish a plan of communications with all staff members. Remember on-site phone systems will not work, rendering normal call-in messaging ineffective.
5) Notify your general liability insurance provider if you know where your business will be operating.
What to Take when Evacuating:
Server(s)
Include their power cables, keyboards/mice, monitors, ethernet cables
UPS(s) connected to the server(s)
On premise backup
Switch
Router/Firewall
Computer(s) for Key Positions:
Get a box, carton, or bag and label it with each user’s name
Label computers and monitors (a quick way to do this is to put scotch tape on each device and write user’s name with a permanent marker)
Monitors (leave cables connected to monitors and disconnect from computer)
Computer (put power cable in the box)
Keyboard/Mouse (put in the box)
Ethernet cable (put in the box)
UPS
Printer:
Take at least one printer
Power cable and ethernet cable
Phones:
Hosted Phone System – take key personnel handsets and ethernet cables, and the switch they connect to
OnPremise Phone System – take the account/PIN codes needed to make changes to your phone service (calls can be forwarded)
Supplies/Miscellaneous:
Printer Paper
Checks
Deposit Bag
P.O. Box Keys
Security or Key FOB used for two factor authentications to bank account
General Liability Insurance (agent name and phone number)
Hard copy files of work in process, not available on your computer system
If you need assistance do not hesitate to call! Clients impacted by flood damage who need after hours support, we are waiving the $100 emergency after hours fee, which normally applies if a business is not on a Support Agreement providing 24 x 7 coverage. You may reach us after hours by calling the number on your Support Agreement, or by calling our office at 918-436-1830.