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Paul Sullivan on what small and medium sized businesses can do to prepare for and recover from severe weather disruptions
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-- -- set off by saying yes we do have the election tomorrow and it's been.
Overshadowed a little bit by sandy and that's what's gonna bring us to our first -- of the show Paul Sullivan he's the VP and general manager.
At agility recovery.
Joining us from Charlotte, North Carolina -- -- I hit -- Paul how are you.
That in -- who has worked so what is -- agility recovery I'm great thank you for asking.
Well agility is.
Organizations that are are there's one thing is that the warrants.
Our commercial recovery services.
That actually learning recovered -- -- senate or key element.
The -- -- our customers and that's really.
Our base.
Acknowledging.
That -- went in addition to and in our power back but.
Water and being able to get our customers are an operation on a -- such as -- we just outstanding.
It's always this is boom time for you right eight natural disasters and other disasters it that it's good for your business.
It I guess good purpose but I guess did nothing that we look at is that.
It'll be able to take care of our members and be able to support them at their greatest movie out this kind of close to a hundred customers that it declared yes we're supporting right album at one point and then he went along we have.
-- -- well under business locations that had a power.
And -- -- -- businesses prepare for the possibility.
A bit of a disaster.
Well I think there's probably street that you really don't look at wanted to make sure they have -- especially communication plan in place.
And -- I think.
We're all seeing another very important to be able to -- communicate not only jury that storm boxes.
Before and after the events as well I think are healthy and in.
Quick recovery or -- The other thing is -- ensure you have a plan and wait for temporary power or alternate workspace.
That it that this is an idea that possible.
Because a lot of residents and businesses up and -- East Coast don't have power and it in patsy and wouldn't you know.
My father email me today he's like I'm home against them board I can't going to report begins -- network known and our.
And indignant Michael my got -- -- for a week.
Automatic and that -- laden well the thing that people don't think about it that you know a lot of people think well I'm a bit retrospect Mike and work from home.
Well there's no power you're not gonna do the work also important business -- think about a way to be able to bring in temporary power.
And that there's some of the fact that we're seeing some of that oil workers -- the by the water as well and and -- a lot of yeah.
Look for alternate workspace and I got the last piece is really looking -- and making sure -- data backed out and and testing the ability to jail they'll restore.
You know we're seeing that I kind of a wide variety.
We're gonna -- -- but if you think about it at all helping the community at its credit unions and banks that are restoring.
So that people can get their money that we know that -- it'd be kind of a bad actually and I'm.
And any other thing that we see your insurance company.
I think ensure their back up it will help those people what they're claim that they get them on the road -- operate.
Our and we think that the other is what the people felt that the food distribution companies -- need to be up and operational ability if -- everybody's self.
We're scared but it wide range of different types of indices I -- sovereign.
Yeah.
Would disaster prevention plan cost of business on average if you if you could estimate it.
While that may very.
What we did and agility look at it and -- Design a solution that would help the small to medium business -- You know fortune 500 always had programs in place and very possibly but that is what better way to do -- if some of the small to medium get -- How would be able to do it and for a little as 495.
Dollars -- called an organization -- -- what -- -- in Italy is always but also for our -- but I.
-- that money well invested you know.
It is out there but on the other thing that everybody's -- -- about whether if they're smaller immediate is that.
Made sure that your employees are very well and help them out there's many organizations that -- Different emergency kit which is the Red Cross for the -- -- -- and certainly.
Here people in the right direction but it's so important to insure your employees are -- yeah.
As if they are they're gonna rally around or your business of being restored -- I yeah.
-- otherwise -- -- at active thinker establishment.
You know it's interesting that.
It's been noted that after disasters let's say Hurricane Katrina a large portion of businesses small businesses don't ever -- -- right do you have those.
But those numbers -- us.
Yeah that that's very true artist that you know statistics say that you know upwards of 40% of businesses fail.
If they don't work copper.
Eight -- I -- -- -- that added and while everybody believes they should have a program that place.
A lot of them just never actually you've got.
And and you're gonna see that you know some of the specific talent that.
You know between -- -- of 8% of organizations are gonna be some sort of power no option.
-- Wal-Mart updating its smaller options but it could -- -- -- -- and it doesn't take much to yeah.
And we have about a minute or so left here Paul can you just quickly go through.
Powell and small medium whatever size business should go about rebuilding after a disaster whether they were prepared -- not.
You know what -- -- -- -- illegal about question tips were rebuilding after.
After storm has hit our business.
Well I mean if they're gonna look to restore after they've added that it got out.
The big thing in establishing communication -- employees but.
Making sure that the leadership.
And all the information they need to make that -- decisions that move forward.
-- -- focused on I was there are no more political options not evidence -- -- -- -- -- disaster but there -- -- but it it is -- process.
Operational.
And then what if they can collapse -- decisions forward.
Paul Solomon thank you so -- Joining us from utility recovery in North Carolina thank you for your advice in your tips we've -- is helpful for.
All the smaller businesses out there who should be considering these things there's lots of people say they heard about Fannie but they just weren't prepared.
And that's always the case self made and I 500 -- Enron I -- just -- it would -- bought it back.
Most people think it won't happen to me home -- they need to be prepared yet.
Thank you so much -- speaking of it won't happen to -- my home town was rapid -- Andy.
And some of these areas escape diary and so they stayed in the policies residents and it said it -- -- in Athens last time.
And while look at them now it's really sad situation we -- Katrina and it's closer to home appear where we are with sandy are.
