What are the most important steps to take when preparing for a wildfire? This question will be increasingly important to businesses in the era of climate change.
|
August 20, 2024 INSIDE THIS ARTICLE, YOU'LL FIND: |
Due to climate change, wildfires are becoming an increasingly common threat, especially in regions prone to dry conditions and high temperatures. These natural disasters pose significant risks to businesses, including physical damage to property, operational disruptions, and threats to employee safety. Damage from climate-exacerbated wildfires costs the U.S. as much as $893 billion per year, and the impact they can have on any one business is devastating — according to FEMA, 25% of all businesses close permanently after a disaster.
While the danger is real, the good news is that businesses can take proactive steps to minimize their risk. Being prepared for wildfire season is not just about protecting assets — it's about ensuring the continuity of operations and safeguarding the well-being of employees and the community.
Wildfire risk varies greatly depending on geographical location and industry type. Businesses situated in wildfire-prone areas, such as the western United States, must assess their vulnerability by considering local climate, vegetation, and recent fire history. According to recent statistics, Texas and California typically lead the nation in terms of number of fires per year, while states such as Alaska and New Mexico suffer the most acres burned.
Industry-specific factors also play a role. For example, businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, or logistics might face higher risks due to the nature of their operations and the materials they handle: Agriculture businesses may store dry crops, manufacturing plants might have chemicals or machinery that could catch fire, and logistics companies store large amounts of goods in warehouses. These factors make such businesses more susceptible to wildfire damage, and understanding these vulnerabilities is crucial in tailoring a wildfire preparedness plan that meets their unique needs.
A comprehensive emergency plan is the cornerstone of wildfire preparedness. This plan should outline procedures for protecting both people and property and should involve key stakeholders in its development to ensure it meets the needs of the entire organization.
Preparing for wildfire emergencies, like other natural disasters such as hurricanes or crises such as active shooter situations, should begin by asking your team a series of questions. These questions will guide you in identifying the gaps in your protocols and supplies. Some aspects of wildfire response are obvious — if you are near one, evacuate — but many are less so.
These preparation questions should include, but are not limited to:
Answering these questions will help you lay out more formal plans, such as an evacuation procedure, communication strategy, and agreements with vendors and providers. An evacuation procedure is useless if the employees aren’t trained to execute it; before you can communicate to your personnel and leadership during an emergency, you need to ensure everyone has access to the tools and applications they need to receive your warnings, updates, and next steps.
An important tenet of resiliency planning is to make the information accessible. This not only means making it widely available to all employees, but creating documentation and assets that are engaging, readable, and easy to digest. We suggest that alongside any in-depth plan is a shortened version that contains all the most valuable information — this document can be adapted to account for current conditions, and does not risk getting shelved when it’s needed most.
When preparing for wildfire season, the safety of your employees is your foremost priority. Protecting people involves more than just having an evacuation plan — it's about ensuring they are well-trained, informed, and supported throughout the entire process.
By fostering a culture of preparedness, you help safeguard lives and build a stronger, more resilient organization. Here are areas to focus on when creating that culture:
By prioritizing the safety of your people, you not only fulfill your duty of care but also foster a supportive and prepared workplace that can better withstand the challenges posed by wildfire season.
While people are the priority, many businesses would suffer insurmountable setbacks if their assets were destroyed in wildfires. The physical structure of your business can be fortified against wildfires with some key modifications and maintenance practices.
Wildfires pose a significant risk to businesses, potentially disrupting operations and causing financial losses. Effective business continuity planning (BCP) is essential to minimize these impacts and ensure the continuation of critical functions.
Business continuity planning specific to wildfire preparation should include the following documents and actions:
By preparing for wildfires through a robust BCP, businesses can mitigate risks, minimize downtime, and safeguard their reputation during wildfire season.
Once a wildfire has passed, the recovery process begins. This stage is crucial for getting your business back on track.
Restoring operations as quickly and safely as possible is the goal. This may involve repairing or rebuilding structures, replacing damaged equipment, and reassuring employees and clients of your business's stability.
A thorough assessment of any damage should be conducted as soon as it is safe to do so. Documenting the damage with photographs and detailed records is vital for insurance claims and future planning.
One major step that should not take place during the aftermath of a fire: figuring out what your insurance or coverage includes. That should have been done long before the wildfire hit. Understanding your coverage in advance allows you to act quickly and effectively during recovery, ensuring that your business can get back on its feet as soon as possible. If you're unsure about your current coverage, make reviewing it a priority before disaster strikes.
Every wildfire experience provides lessons that can improve your preparedness for the future. Review your emergency plans, update them based on what worked and what didn’t, and continue to build resilience against future threats.
For further guidance on preparing your business for wildfire season, consider consulting resources provided by government and nonprofit organizations such as FEMA, the Red Cross, and local fire departments. These organizations offer tools and templates that can help you assess risks, develop emergency plans, and ensure your business is as prepared as possible.
In addition to government and nonprofit resources, businesses should consider partnering with duty of care providers. These experts specialize in helping organizations prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters like wildfires. They offer comprehensive services, from risk assessments and emergency planning to real-time monitoring and post-disaster support. By integrating a duty of care provider into your wildfire preparedness strategy, you can enhance your organization’s resilience, ensure a more efficient recovery process, and support your people who may be impacted by wildfires on an on-going basis. Consider exploring these services as part of your overall disaster management plan.
To effectively prepare for a wildfire, businesses should develop a comprehensive preparedness plan that includes evacuation routes, communication strategies, and assigned staff responsibilities. Creating a defensible space around the property by clearing vegetation and debris is also crucial. Additionally, upgrading to fire-resistant building materials can significantly reduce the risk of damage.
During a wildfire emergency, businesses should have a communication strategy that includes multiple channels such as text alerts, emails, and social media. Establishing a centralized communication point, such as a designated team or individual responsible for updates, ensures that information is disseminated accurately and promptly. Crucially, businesses must update employee data regularly, so that they receive the proper communication at the right email, phone number, or other point of contact.
Integrating wildfire preparedness into a broader risk management strategy involves assessing how wildfire risks impact various aspects of operations, from facilities to supply chains. Businesses should conduct a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and develop contingency plans that include wildfire scenarios. Regularly reviewing and updating these plans, making your plans accessible and readable, incorporating feedback from drills, and aligning them with other risk management practices ensures that wildfire preparedness is seamlessly integrated into the overall strategy.
The Global Guardian team is standing by to support your duty of care and security requirements with a comprehensive suite of solutions. To learn more about our services, complete the form below or call us at + 1 (703) 566-9463.