In preparation for the upcoming rainy season and the Atlantic hurricane season, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) and the American Chamber of Commerce of TT (AMCHAM) have equipped business owners with tips to manage and prepare their teams through a business continuity workshop.
The workshop facilitated by American Chamber of Commerce’s Arise T&T Committee member Wendy Dickson focused on phases of preparation, and the importance of preparation for the businesses, among other topics.
“A lot of the enterprises, they don’t know anything about business continuity, so I am happy that it is going to be a refresher course for some, and then for others, it’s totally brand new, and some don’t even have plans. So this is an avenue that we are using to make sure, to ensure that plans are crafted and the information is disseminated to the respective staff members.”
Ms. Dickson said having a communication plan—especially with the high use of social media platforms today—is an important aspect of preparation.
“Now the communication is important, especially for social media to be specific. Everybody has a smartphone; everybody is on Facebook, and you know how Trinidadians are – information goes out there and once it out on that information highway, it’s difficult to retrieve. So the communication plan, whether it’s internal or external, would assist the organisation in getting the proper message out there.”
As a coordinating agency, the ODPM functions by educating the public on preparation and management before and during a disaster.
Mitigation Manager, Peter Kalicharan, is advising the public to keep to these tips ahead of the hurricane season.
“For individuals, there are a number of steps that they can take in preparation for the hurricane and rainy seasons. One, educate yourself; two, make sure that you have essential items such as a grab-and-go bag as well as portable water available in case of any long-term disruptions. For businesses, make sure that your systems can stand the tests, for example installing generators to ensure continuity of service.”
The hurricane and rainy season are not the only potential disasters that persons should prepare for. For instance, earthquakes. Although they are difficult to predict, there are steps you should take.
“Some of the things that you can do is make sure you know the procedures to adopt and run in an earthquake. The drop, cover and hold rule is generally accepted; additionally, if that is not possible, find yourself a steady structure away from glass and make sure that you secure yourself under that structure.”
The ODPM is also urging persons to ensure that their houses are built to withstand earthquakes, and for businesses, the buildings should be designed to international codes to protect from natural hazards.