Capitol One Offers Disaster-Planning Checklist
As hurricane season approaches, Capital One Financial Corp. recently released an updated disaster-planning checklist for businesses that is available on
http://www.capitalonebank.com/disasterplanning
. The checklist emphasizes the following points:
- Develop a continuity plan that addresses post-disaster recovery procedures.
- Consider alternative operational locations.
- Equip backup operations sites with critical equipment, data files and supplies.
- Safeguard property.
- Gather current contact information for employees, vendors and customers.
- Develop multiple and reliable communication methods to reach employees.
- Communicate details of the plan to employees.
- Let customers and vendors know the business’ plan and what to expect from the business.
- Develop a detailed action plan in the event of a mandatory evacuation.
- Prepare for emergency cash management to handle cash flow.
Capital One also offers the following planning recommendations to help businesses prepare for potential emergencies:
- Transport physical records when a business evacuates. Records should always be kept where they can be removed quickly and easily to a safe location.
- Identify which aspects of operations can be suspended temporarily and which must be maintained. List the business tools they will need to perform operations essential to sustaining business during a disaster and the recovery period that follows.
- Review communications capabilities for maintaining contact with employees. E-mail and text messaging should play a large role in employee communications planning.