Your employees are your business's most valuable resource. In the event that an emergency affects your business, you will need to make sure that all channels of communication in these scenarios are available. 

 • Do you have a way to reach your employees?

 • Do you have all your employees current contact information?

 • Is your employee' s contact information accessible outside your business location? 

Up-to-date employee contact information will enable you to get in touch with employees to determine their safety and whereabouts as well as inform them about the status of your operations. It is crucial to designate a telephone number where employees can leave messages, with COVID-19 for example; an employee will need to call if they are feeling symptoms of the illness and you may not be available on your personal mobile phone. 

A critical component is to create a resilient team, and regardless of the size of your business, support from top leadership is essential in ensuring that resiliency planning is successful.

The resiliency team will assign themselves specific roles in the event of a disaster, which could include: 

• Coordinating a building evacuation 

• Communicating information to employees 

• Shutting down utilities to assist in safeguarding the business location or building

• Tracking disaster-related costs

• Putting the emergency communications plan into effect 

• Retrieving emergency kits

  
  

Larger organisations should designate a key employee from each department, such as sales, operations and customer service. In this case, also develop a contact list so you will be able to effectively communicate before, during and after a disaster. Your resiliency plan should include both internal and external communications (for example, employees and their families, clients, suppliers and partners, your insurance provider(s))

Pro tip: Make a miniature laminated emergency contact card and keep it in your wallet.  

Ensure that you include contact information for:

• Primary and alternative phone numbers for key employees.

• Suppliers

• Local SAPS and the closest Fire Brigade Station. 

• Utility providers (electric, natural gas, water)

  
  

Having a clear communication channel established with your employees guarantees that when unavoidable emergencies arise that there is less panic and more action to make sure the crisis is solved efficiently.