Articles
9 February 2012

Coming Your Way

by Jamie Huish Stum

09 February 2012—

While we know a tsunami isn’t the most likely disaster to strike Utah, the state comes with its fair share of calamities. We’ve compiled a list of what disasters to look out for in Utah—and what business owners need to do to be prepared.

Earthquakes:
 
            It’s true: Utah is primed to get a big one. The Salt Lake portion is one of the most likely areas along the Wasatch Fault to suffer a major earthquake, which would affect 11 counties and 80 percent of the state’s population, says Bob Carey, earthquake program manager for the Utah Division of Homeland Security.
            Businesses should have a redundancy plan in place “from who can sign a check to what vendors you’ll receive product from to possibly a backup facility,” Carey says. This ensures a business can get up and running after the earth stops shaking—which can be critical for other businesses and clients dependent on your company.
             After a quake, structural damage can take time to repair. Carey recommends having an engineer on retainer to certify when your employees can reoccupy the building. And before disaster strikes, businesses should stock at least eight to 12 hours of supplies and first aid kits in case employees are stranded at the workplace.
 
Floods:
             
Experts start gearing up for floods when Utah retains a snowpack, then experiences four or five days of hot temperatures capped with a thunderstorm. Sound like an average spring? Floods are one of Utah’s most common disasters, says Judy Watanabe, mitigation section leader for the Utah Division of Homeland Security.
“[Floods] can be devastating; they can ruin a person’s home or business. It doesn’t take a whole lot to prepare a little bit and save yourself a lot of headache,” Watanabe says.
            Flood insurance covers up to $500,000 of damage, but processing claims can  take about 30 days, so prepare accordingly . Business owners should also ensure landscaping and drain pipes aren’t placed too close to the structure to cause runoff during a flood, Watanabe says. Vital records should be stored in plastic containers on an upper level and every business should have emergency phone numbers accessible, such as a disaster restoration company and the Utah Emergency Management Association.        
             
 
Data Loss:
           
“I have yet to meet a company who doesn’t consider their data critical to business operations and survival,” says Rene Murphy, program manager for the Utah Division of Homeland Security.
Many businesses back up data with offsite storage or an online provider. Inexpensive options also include portable hard drives and flash drives, though the space for storage is limited. Small businesses can also save information to a disc and send it out of state to a trusted source, Murphy says.
When determining what the most vital records to back up are, businesses should ask what information their insurance provider or lending institution would need in order to process a claim or a loan, Murphy says. And because the majority of business owners admit to never doing a run-through on a system, Murphy says the trick to quick recovery after a disaster is always test, test, test.
           
Severe Weather:
           
Utahns experience severe weather all year, including storms, tornadoes, avalanches and hail. To prepare, Kevin Barjenbruch, meteorologist for the Salt Lake office of the National Weather Service, advises business owners to designate a spotter to identify any potential weather hazards that can impact operations.
Winter storm survival kits, which include food, water, flashlights, matches, a blanket and a handheld radio, should also be in every business vehicle in case of winter storms, Barjenbruch advises.
            Thunderstorms and lightning pose an often-overlooked hazard to Utah businesses. “A lot of people don’t realize that lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from where rain is falling,” Barjenbruch says. He advises getting all employees inside during a thunderstorm and waiting 30 minutes after a storm has passed before resuming outside activities.
 
Wildfires:
                       
“Fire is part of the environment throughout the whole state,” says Tracy Dunford, fire management officer for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. This means Utah has wildfires on an annual basis.
            Business owners’ best precaution is to clear vegetation around a building, which breaks up the potential fuel that causes a wildfire to quickly spread. Dunford also advises those shopping for a new business location to pay attention to the material a building is made of. “Shake roofs are the worst,” Dunford says. “It’s just like piling kindling up on top of the roof. If a spark lands on a wood shake roof, it’s almost certain it will catch on fire.”
            Besides stocking a business with fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, he recommends business owners ensure there is a reliable water source on the property, such as a fire hydrant, a pond or an underground water tank.
 
To be prepared for any disaster, officials recommend business owners review insurance policies annually and practice their emergency plan with their employees. Once you’re ready, you can rest easy your business will withstand any size of storm.


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