Natural disaster recovery checklist

With the devastating recent natural events in New Zealand affecting individuals and businesses in a multitude of ways, we've compiled a checklist to help with recovery.

Insurance

- Receive clearance from emergency services that it's safe to access your business premises to inspect damage

- Contact your insurer prior to any cleanup and photograph damage to buildings, fixtures, equipment, stock, records, vehicles etc

- Receive confirmation from the insurance company that you can start the cleanup process

Cleanup

- Turned off gas/power supplies

- Check with local council on cleaning and disposal options.

- Contact electricians and gas fitters to organise inspections

- Move any salvageable items to a secure location to minimise theft

- Keep records of any repair, clean-up or temporary storage costs

- Contact phone and internet providers to see how they can help you stay in touch with key stakeholders

- Engage with your landlord (if your business building is leased) to discuss possible rent relief and timeframes around remedial work. Likewise, talk to your bank if you have a mortgage on your business premises.

Communication with your staff/team

- Check on your team members. Have they been affected? What can you do to help and support them?

- Consider what jobs you have available, whether all team members will return and what your employment obligations are during natural disasters/emergencies.

- Keep your team informed about what is happening with the business and their pay/jobs. Be open and honest.

Assess your business

- Do you have the finance needed to re-open? Seek advice from your accountant or financial advisor. You'll most likely need some financial statements prepared to understand where your business is at financially. They may also have advice on possible tax adjustments or deferred payments for any upcoming tax deadlines.

- How badly has the disaster impacted you, your employees, local community and local infrastructure? Has the market for your product/service changed as a result of the disaster?

- What options do you have if you choose not to re-open?

- Investigate what natural disaster support is available via government funding and community support.

Re-opening your business

- Can you work from home, relocate temporarily while remedial work is done on existing premises or sign a new lease and permanently relocate?

- What do you need to buy, hire or lease to get back up and running?

- What records do you have access to? Can you salvage or restore any?

- For any records that can't be saved, can you obtain copies from other organisations or individuals like your bank, government departments, your accountant/lawyer, team members, suppliers etc

- Communicate with customers to see how they are and provide any support or info about your business

- Check with suppliers to find out if they've been affected and if they are able to provide you with the support needed to start trading again. Discuss any current payment obligations you have and how they can help manage these.

Plan for the future

- Review operations and look at what you can do to improve the way your business is run

- Develop or review your business plan and prepare a business continuity plan

- Consider what you can do to be more prepared for natural disasters in the future. A good starting point is digitising all important records and having cloud backup.

Stay well and safe

The Beany team