With the storm and bushfire seasons already having an impact, Redland City Council is reminding local business owners to ensure their business is as resilient as possible.
Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Chair Jos Mitchell said the business community needed to be proactive, not complacent, at this time of year.
“In the same way that Redlands Coast residents are getting prepared for disasters such as severe storms, localised flooding, heat waves and bushfires, businesses also need to prepare,” the Mayor said.
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“Business continuity is one of the areas where you can start those preparations now.
“Identify and analyse possible risks to your business and develop a continuity plan as well as an emergency kit.
“Plan alternatives for loss of power, access, communications and operations.
“Make sure you store a copy of your business continuity plan off-site, in a safe, disaster-proof location.”
The Mayor said it was also time to ensure staff were prepared.
“This involves having an evacuation plan in place as well as developing a task list for your staff to carry out in preparation for and during a disaster,” she said.
“Other things you can do now include checking your insurance is adequate to cover your business in the event of a disaster.
“As you should also do at home, check your business premises is in a sound condition, especially the roof and eaves.
“Trim overhanging branches and remove rubbish located close to your building.
“Clear your property of loose items that could become missiles during extreme winds.”
Diary note:
Council is conducting a free business resilience training session on Thursday 13 November in Redland Bay.
The session aims to guide businesses on preparing for, and recovering from, severe weather events. Topics will include planning, risk assessment, identifying critical operations and recovery strategies.
The event is being hosted by Council and Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce.
It will be held from 12pm to 1pm at the SES Redland Bay operations centre in Redlands Business Park, 44 Jardine Drive, Redland Bay. For bookings click here.
For more information:
Practical information on preparing your business is available online at:
- Council’s Disaster Management Plan page
- Queensland Government’s Disaster Preparedness for Business page
- Business Queensland’s Small Business Disaster Hub.
Residents can also subscribe to Council’s free emergency notification messaging service, Redlands Coast Alerts, via the Redlands Coast Disaster Dashboard at disaster.redland.qld.gov.au.
During a disaster, the dashboard is continually updated with vital information on road closures, emergency contacts, Energex power outages, active evacuation centres and weather warnings.
