For small firms, disaster prep starts at home

While boarded up storefronts were a common site as Hurricane Irene moved up the East Coast last weekend, a recent Wells Fargo survey indicates that many small-business owners tend to focus disaster preparedness efforts on their homes – not their workplaces.

In a poll of more than 600 owners nationwide, only 31 percent said their companies were well-prepared for natural disasters, while more than half said they weren’t concerned about the impact of disasters on their business. The survey was conducted by Gallup in July, ahead of Hurricane Irene.

Only 37 percent of business owners said they had an emergency plan for the workplace, compared with 54 percent who said they had one for their home, the survey found. Plans included stocking up on emergency supplies, knowledge of nearby emergency shelters and evacuation routes, backup communications and disaster-insurance policies.

According to Doug Case, manager of Wells Fargo’s small-business segment, day-to-day business concerns of dealing with the sluggish economy are likely diverting owners’ attention from other issues.

“Emergency preparedness may often be set aside for another day,” Case said in a statement.

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