UpFront - January/February 2010

Preparing for the Unthinkable

The American Red Cross offers businesses a five-step program for disaster preparedness

If flu kept half of your workforce home, would you know what to do? If a snowstorm knocked out electricity, would you still be able to work? If you joined the American Red Cross’ Ready Rating program, you would be a step ahead. The five-step program, launched by the American Red Cross in 2008, is designed to help businesses prepare for any type of emergency, from disease outbreaks to natural disasters, without costing them a lot of time or resources.

The program is free, but membership is required. After joining, you’ll take an online assessment to determine your baseline ability to react to disasters. From there, the program will assist you in developing and implementing an emergency plan.

The American Red Cross also offers 16 emergency-specific checklists--covering topics like flu safety and winter weather preparedness--that you can print out and post on a bulletin board for your employees. For these and additional disaster preparedness resources, visit redcross.org.