The last few days have seen countries such as the United States suffer devastating damage resulting from Hurricane Irma. This hurricane has left a trail of destruction and the country has suffered massive losses (Staletovich, 2017). Businesses are among the entities that have borne the brunt of the hurricane. It is true that most of these businesses will be able to recover thanks to the relief that the US government provides. However, small businesses should expect to encounter challenges in their recovery efforts. This is because it is estimated that as many as 40% of small businesses are unable to get back on their feet following a hurricane (Morris, 2017). To ensure that it recovers after a disaster, it is important for a small business such as one that is home based to develop a recovery plan.
Business and product
The business that I will operate is a small venture that is primarily involved in the sale of home improvement and interior decorating products. We sell such products as door mats, throw pillows, flower vases, custom-made rugs, hand-stitched curtains and simple garden furniture. We also offer consultancy services to clients who wish to renovate their homes, offices and other spaces. As part of our consultancy services, we advise clients on such issues as the best layout for their furniture, among other issues.
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Roles of disaster recovery team
Effective disaster recovery hinges on the development of a detailed recovery plan (Rothstein, 2007). The plan needs to identify the individuals who will perform certain roles. The plan must also stipulate the processes and procedures to be followed during the recovery. It is also important for firms to have teams in place that are charged with disaster recovery. Salvaging property is one of the roles that disaster recovery teams perform (Burtles, 2015). These teams move with speed to shield property from further damage. Given that my enterprise is home-based, I will be unable to develop a huge team. For this reason, I will assign myself the task of protecting the property. I will ensure that such items as the rugs, furniture, curtains and vases are moved to safer locations.
Salvaging property is not the only function that it executed as part of disaster recovery. Communication and coordination are other roles that must be played for the disaster recovery process to occur smoothly (Rapp, 2011). It is necessary for clear communication channels to be established. It is also vital to ensure that the efforts of different stakeholders are coordinated to facilitate seamless recovery. Given that I understand how the business operates, I will assign myself these roles. However, I will invite my employees to participate in the recovery effort. I will issue clear instructions that detail the assignments that I need the employees to undertake. Actual recovery efforts will involve my entire team. For example, I will join my employees in moving the products to a safer location.
Lack of resources and knowledge
One of the factors that hinder disaster recovery is inadequate funding. Huge amounts of funds and other resources are needed to ensure that damage resulting from a disaster is contained. Inadequate knowledge is yet another challenge that hampers disaster recovery efforts (Jha & Stanton-Geddes, 2013). Unless one is familiar with the actions that they need to take during disaster recovery, this process will not occur smoothly. I anticipate that my resources and knowledge to recover from a disaster will be limited. For example, I expect that I will not have enough manpower to move the products to a safe location. Additionally, I anticipate that the available resources will be insufficient to rebuild. I also predict that I will not have sufficient knowledge on such issues as how to obtain government relief and how to attend to any injuries that result from the disaster.
The lack of knowledge and resources will undoubtedly impede disaster recovery efforts. However, there are numerous sources of help. The government is one of the sources of support. In a bid to accelerate recovery for businesses, the government has set up programs through which it delivers assistance. For example, the Small Business Administration offers such facilities as loans to businesses that are reeling from a disaster (Rogers, 2017). Friends and family are other parties that I could turn to for help. Most small businesses rely on the support of family and friends to fuel their operations.
Recovery location
When a disaster strikes, it often renders a firm’s premises unsuitable for operation. This forces the business to identify a new location from where it conducts its operations as it recovers. The location that a firm selects should be one that allows it to continue operating normally. In the case of my business, I expect to encounter challenges in finding a recovery location. However, I hope to set up base in the home of a friend or one of my employees. Given that we are a home-based business, I do not expect that we will need too much space. Therefore, a friend or employee’s home should suffice. I should note that I anticipate that it will be nearly impossible to operate normally. Disasters often force firms to scale back their operations as they focus on rebuilding.
In conclusion, small businesses report massive losses when disasters occur. A large number of these businesses are often unable to recover. This underscores the need for a small business to develop a plan in which it outlines the resources and procedures that are to be used when a disaster occurs. It is also vital for the business to draw up functions and develop a team whose mandate is clearly spelt out. The business should also identify sources of resources and knowledge. This will allow the business to continue with recovery efforts even when it faces such challenges as inadequate resources and knowledge.
References
Burtles, J. (2015). Principles and Practice of Business Continuity: Tools and Techniques. Brookfield, CT: Rothstein Publishing.
Jha, A. K. & Stanton-Geddes, Z. (2013). Strong, Safe and Resilient: A Strategic Policy Guide For Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.
Morris, C. (2017). Hurricane Alert: 40 Percent of Small Businesses never Recover from a Disaster. Retrieved 19th September 2017 from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/16/hurricane-watch-40-percent-of-small-businesses-dont-reopen-after-a-disaster.html
Rapp, R. R. (2011). Disaster Recovery Project Management: Bringing Order from Chaos. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.
Rogers, K. (2017). Small-Business Disaster Loans can Aid Hurricane-Hit Homeowners, Renters Too. Retrieved 19th September 2017 from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/01/small-business-disaster-loans-to-aid-hurricane-hit-homeowners-renters.html
Rothstein, P. J. (Ed.). (2007). Disaster Recovery Testing: Exercising your Contingency Plan. Brookfield, CT: Rothstein Associates Inc.
Staletovich, J. (2017). Irma Damage Expected to Reach $8 Billion in the U.S. Retrieved 19th September 2017 from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article173182856.html
